Even we were surprised with glowing, albeit divergent Texans grades post free agency
WOW FACTOR
21 March
Cowherd has the Vikings over the Texans? Composite Getty Image.
With most of the action winding down from NFL free agency, we're starting to see outlets publish their post-free agency power rankings.
The Athletic is very high on the Houston Texans this year, ranking them fourth behind the Chiefs, 49ers, and Lions. They love the additions the Texans have made, but others aren't so optimistic about Houston's outlook in 2024.
FS1's Colin Cowherd revealed his post-free agency Herd's Hierarchy this week, and he doesn't even have the Texans cracking the Top 10. What's even more odd is he has zero teams from the AFC South making the list.
And yet he has 3 teams from the NFC North in the Top 10 including the Minnesota Vikings.
Currently, Sam Darnold is their quarterback, and their best pass rusher Danielle Hunter is now playing for the Texans.
It appears the Vikings plan is to land one of the top QBs in the draft, but they will have to trade up to do so. They could end up missing out on one of the elite QBs and be stuck with Darnold taking snaps. Why not wait until after the draft to include the Vikings on this list?
Plus, he points out how much he likes Minnesota's receivers and Pro Bowl tight end TJ Hockenson. However, he fails to mention Hockenson just had surgery to repair his ACL at the end of January. Reports out of Minnesota indicate Hockenson is more likely to be placed on the PUP list than being available Week 1. Which means he wouldn't be ready to play until Week 5.
We understand Colin's job is to get people talking, and contrarian view points are a good way to do that. But the Vikings over the Texans is going a bit too far in our opinion.
Be sure to watch the video below as we react to Cowherd's rankings, discuss how they compare to The Athletic's, and much more!
How Astros surging ace raises key questions about Houston's short, long-term rotation moves
Jul 25, 2024, 5:39 pm
It's no secret to Astros fans that the ascension of Hunter Brown is one of the primary reasons the team was able to rebound from a disastrous start to the season.
Astros manager Joe Espada has seen enough from Brown to start throwing around the word “ace” when talking about him.
Joe Espada on Hunter Brown: "He's having that ace feeling to him. We are expecting him to go out there and deliver what he just did. We knew all along that is in him and now he's starting to turn the corner. He's starting to have that swag where he knows 'my team needs a win.'"
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 24, 2024
And it appears the biggest key to Brown's turnaround was mixing in a two-seam fastball to keep right-handed hitters honest. Brown needed a pitch that could command the inside of the plate, which allows his other pitches to be more effective.
We learned just recently, from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, that Alex Bregman was the one that suggested the addition of the two-seam fastball to Brown's arsenal.
Come to find out, Bregman often shares advice on how to attack hitters. Or he'll ask pitchers why they chose a certain pitch in a specific situation.
This just goes to show that veteran leadership can make a big difference. Especially on a team with so many young pitchers and catchers. Bregman was able to help Brown when no pitching coach could.
For Brown, this small tweak could be the catalyst that changes the course of his career. And the Astros season for that matter.
However, some will say the difference in Brown is more about confidence than anything else. But confidence only builds after repeated success. Nobody knows where Brown would be without the two-seam fastball.
Looking ahead
If the Astros do make the playoffs, where will Espada slot Brown in the playoff rotation? Framber Valdez has the playoff experience, so he'll probably be penciled in as the number one starter.
Justin Verlander (neck) still isn't facing live batters, so it's hard to count on him. Ronel Blanco has been an All-Star level pitcher this season, but he doesn't have any experience pitching playoff games for the Astros.
So it wouldn't be surprising at all if Brown is the team's number two starter. In all likelihood, whoever is pitching the best at the end of the season may get the nod. But it's fun to discuss in the meantime.
Finally, how does Hunter Brown's arrival impact the Astros' plans at the trade deadline? And how could that affect Justin Verlander's future with the club?
Be sure to check out the video above for the full conversation!
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
