The Speakeasy crew EVISCERATE Dan Orlovsky for C.J. Stroud take

What this episode is about

The discussion centers on C.J. Stroud's disappointing performance in a recent game, prompting strong criticism from the Speakeasy crew. They also analyze Dan Orlovsky's controversial assertion that any other quarterback would have secured a win for Houston, sparking a debate about the level of scrutiny facing Stroud and the team's future prospects.

Key takeaways

• CJ Stroud's Sunday performance was more 'Bonka Donk' than 'Bonafide,' casting shadows on his future in Houston.
• 31 other quarterbacks? That's generous; even the Jets and Commanders would struggle with the Texans' offensive woes.
• Questioning Stroud's future isn't mean-spirited—it's essential; after all, the Texans defense can't play quarterback.
• Stroud didn't lead the Texans to Divisional Rounds; a stout defense and luck carried that narrative.
• Justin Herbert gets a pass due to his hefty contract, while Stroud faces scrutiny—fair or foul?

Who speaks in this episode?

• Dan Orlovsky (Guest) · 2 min speaking
• Chad Johnson (Host) · 5 min speaking
• Shady McCoy (Guest) · 4 min speaking
• Ryan Clark (Guest) · 1 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Dan Orlovski, Prize Picks, Khloe Kardashian, Serena Williams
2. 3:00 – 6:00: David Mills, Ryan Clark
3. 6:00 – 9:00: Houston Texans, Ryan Clark, Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa
4. 9:00 – 12:00: Ryan Clark, David Mills

Notable quotes from "The Speakeasy crew EVISCERATE Dan Orlovsky for C.J. Stroud take"

• Dan Arloski this morning had this taken if you're Houston you win that game with 31 other quarterbacks.

  about Houston Texans · at 0:28

• Including California, Texas, my home state, and Georgia. But my favorite thing, Prize Picks is going to give you $50 in lineups when you make your first $5 lineup. What's that…

  about Prize Picks · at 1:13

• Is somebody paying you not named the Texans? CJ Strad, it was truly awful. I also I didn't even like what Ryan Clark said. Pull up what Ryan Clark said about it. I didn't like what Ryan Clark said like you know CJ Strad is still the guy.

  about Ryan Clark · at 3:09

• Yeah. Like if you had to say what's the weak link of the Houston Texans, it's CJ Strad. CJ Stout ain't making like he hasn't made winning gamewinning plays.

  about C. J. Stroud · at 7:40

• And CJ Strad even though like he won games as well. He's nine and five as a starter this season. And two of those games he ended up having to leave because Davis Mill got hurt.…

  about David Mills · at 11:56

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• C. J. Stroud — Person · Primary subject (criticized player) · 6 mentions
  The episode centers on harsh evaluation of Stroud’s playoff performance and whether Houston should question him as the franchise QB.
• David Mills — Person · Comparison point (Texans backup QB) · 2 mentions · first at 3:59
  Used as evidence that Houston won games without Stroud and to challenge the narrative that Stroud 'got them' to the divisional round.
• Ryan Clark — Person · Referenced analyst (defending Stroud) · 4 mentions · first at 3:14
  Quoted via a tweet defending Stroud’s future; hosts frame it as a biased “homeboy take” and push back on his claims.
• Dan Orlovski — Person · Referenced analyst (provocative claim) · 2 mentions · first at 0:28
  His statement that Houston wins with '31 other quarterbacks' is played/quoted and becomes a key point the hosts rebut.
  Dan Arloski this morning had this taken if you're Houston you win that game with 31 other quarterbacks.
• Jalen Hurts — Person · Illustrative example (QB benching precedent) · 1 mention · first at 7:00
  Used to illustrate that benching a QB in a title game is typically a college-football phenomenon, underscoring how extreme the Stroud discussion has become.
  Like that's something you think about in college, right? Jaylen Herz gets benched for Tu Tong of Aloa in the national championship game. That happens in college. The next year, Jaylen [snorts] comes in to replace Tua.
• Tua Tagovailoa — Person · Illustrative example (QB benching precedent) · 1 mention · first at 7:00
  Mentioned alongside Jalen Hurts as the QB who replaced him in a national title game, reinforcing the 'benching is a college thing' argument.
  Championship game. That happens in college. The next year, Jaylen [snorts] comes in to replace Tua in the SEC championship game. That's a college thing. Quinn Eers gets pulled…
• Khloe Kardashian — Person · Pop-culture reference (hyperbole) · 1 mention · first at 0:05
  Part of the same comedic comparison list; functions as a cultural shorthand for spectacle/attention.
  Look, we do have to talk about CJ Strad after that Bonka Donk performance out there on Sunday night. That Serena Williams, Cardi B, Kim Kardashian just I MEAN JUST you know what I mean type performance out thereuous.
• Serena Williams — Person · Pop-culture reference (hyperbole) · 1 mention · first at 0:05
  Mentioned as part of a comedic, exaggerated comparison describing the spectacle/energy of the performance being discussed.
  Look, we do have to talk about CJ Strad after that Bonka Donk performance out there on Sunday night. That Serena Williams, Cardi B, Kim Kardashian just I MEAN JUST you know what I mean type performance out thereuous.

Companies & orgs

• Houston Texans — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at 7:42
  The Houston Texans are the central topic of discussion regarding their performance and future prospects, particularly focusing on their quarterback CJ Stroud.

Sponsors

• Prize Picks — Product · Sponsor · 2 mentions · first at 0:58
  Prize Picks is promoted as a platform for winning cash while watching sports, with a special offer mentioned during the podcast.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 Look, we do have to talk about CJ Strad after that Bonka Donk performance out there on Sunday night. That Serena Williams, Cardi B, uh Kim Kardashian just I MEAN JUST

0:11 AH you know what I mean type performance out thereuous the whole the whole all of Columbia the Magic City parking lot. You guys know what it is. Uh CJ Stra stunk. It was really really bad. Uh there was some audio that we have here though for you. Um Dan Arloski this morning had this taken

0:31 if you're Houston you win that game with 31 other quarterbacks. That's and it's unfortunate

0:37 Jared did him any any other quarterback. I mean it's unfortunate that we don't get this defense not only in the AFC title game but then more than likely in the Super Bowl if they win that game yesterday.

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1:40 Where you say that? I'm saying like some things is some people like you. I think you don't like I think you wouldn't mind the message if it was coming from a different message

1:48 because I'd have been on a set like could you No, but I get what he's saying. I get what he's saying.

1:56 I mean, I I I think, man, this dude did HAVE THAT SAME MAN. LIKE, I was like, can you have did that? Like,

2:06 Straoud Straoud was awful. Awful. He was awful. 31 other quarterbacks aren't winning that game, though.

2:14 No. No Jets quarterback is winning that football game. Period. No Commanders quarterback after Jaden Daniels got hurt is winning that game. No Raiders quarterback is winning that game. So like, no. 31 other quarterbacks aren't winning that game cuz we're also assuming CJ Strad would have played better. And then obviously if CJ Strad didn't play better, then Justin Herbert's not winning that game

2:36 just from what we've seen of him in the playoffs. Are we taking it too far with Straoud?

2:40 No. I think that was too far. I think Dan Orowski, that statement was too far. 31 other quarterbacks are not winning that game. But are we taking it too far? Hell no, bro. CJ Strad

2:53 was terrible. And so many people have commented like, "Yo, Acho, why aren't you giving the Patriots more praise? Go watch the game film that I put out. It's on our YouTube channel. CJ Strad's turnovers weren't like great defensive plays by the Patriots." They were just like, "Straoud, what are you doing?" Like, "Is somebody paying you not named the Texans?" CJ Strad, it was it was truly truly awful. I also I didn't even like what what Ryan Clark said. Pull pull up what what Ryan Clark said about it. I didn't like what Ryan Clark said like you know CJ Strad is still the guy.

3:24 Anybody questioning CJ Stout? No. Every question of CJ Strad is a fair question at this point in time. Um pull it show this tweet. Show this tweet. Scroll it up. I don't even care about the saying. It's more so just I I'll read it. He says CJ Strad is my little bro. I love him. He had an awful outing yesterday but miss me with questioning his future. I believe his play cost the Texans defense a historic playoff run, but people are forgetting he's gotten the Texans to three divisional rounds three years straight.

3:48 Pause. Um, y'all know how I feel about quarterback wins. But to say CJ Strad got the Texans to the divisional rounds is a blatant real it's a blatant lie. Like Davis Mills started like five games this year of which I think the Texans went undefeated in those four starts or something like that. CJ Stout, you had four or so turnovers in the first round of the playoffs versus the Steelers. The Texans defense got two turnovers for touchdowns. The Texans defense outscored the Steelers offense. So like to say CJ Straoud got the Texans to the divisional round, it's a lie. Furthermore, any question of CJ Stra's future is absolutely merited because I was looking at the Texans free agents today, Shady.

4:34 They're not losing anybody on defense, thankfully. So if you got to bring back Denil Hunter and Jaylen Petri and Kaylin Bullick and Kamari Lacader and Derek Stingley and Will Anderson, do you want to run that back knowing CJ Stout is at the helm? It is an absolutely absolutely fair question. And stop drawing but what abouts? I hate but what aboutism but what about but what about Justin Herbert? NOBODY QUESTIONS HIM. QUESTION HIM TOO. Difference is Herbert has already been paid $262 million contractually. So you're not allowed to question him anymore because he's already the guy. But don't but WHY DON'T WE QUESTION QUESTION THEM OTHER CATS TOO but questioning CJ Stout's future it is absolutely merited in 25

5:12 yeah I mean I don't know what Ryan talking about like that game was hard to watch and if you like CJ Stout it was even harder to watch I I think CJ is a I can't even say that no more

5:23 what you was going to say I would say he's a solid quarterback but these last two years I I I cannot watch his tape and watch the way he plays

5:31 and say you know what I feel comfortable with this Texans team to going somewhere far next year with him as quarterback. It's like what else do you need, bro? You got that awesome defense. They kept him in the game and that wasn't enough. And I'm thinking about going forward if I'm Jamaica Ryan and I watch how a guy like Shawn Mcderman can do a lot of great things but not the greatest thing and win a championship and he got fired and he got Josh Allen. You got to start thinking about yo his future as a head coach. All these coaches we keep getting getting fired.

6:01 You know what I'm saying? Like yo, you got to think about that. And if I'm an owner, I'm thinking if I see that performance in back-toback playoff games,

6:08 do I feel comfortable going with CJ Stout next year to lead my team? And another thing is I be I always think about like we have a great defense or offense. They won't always be there forever. I had a conversation with Bren today. We was talking about some stuff and talking about the team and we're like, man, we got to squeeze another championship, you know, for the Eagles because

6:28 the defensive guys haven't even got paid yet and that's going to come and we won't have that great defense we have.

6:33 You get what I'm saying? You look at the freaking Texans. I mean, God. So, no, I do not think CJ Style is the guy for the future. And it's not just this game or the last two playoff performances. It was all last year, too. Yeah, that that that's the the reason Chad is making such a good point is at the point in which we're questioning whether or not you should be benched during the biggest game of the season, we have to question your future.

6:57 Absolutely. Like that's something you think about in college, right? Jaylen Herz gets benched for Tu Tong of Aloa in the national championship game. That happens in college. The next year, Jaylen [snorts] comes in to replace Tua in the SEC championship game. That's a college thing. Quinn Eers gets pulled for Arch Manning vers Georgia. It's a college thing. I'm not benching my quarterback or even people talking about it in an NFL game unless I'm questioning his future. And that's how bad it was for CJ Stout. And like Shady said, this is not a rash decision or a rash conversation. CJ Strad has been suspect for two years in a row. And like CJ Strad is he's holding the team back.

7:40 Yeah. Like if you had to say what's the weak link of the Houston Texans, it's CJ Strad. CJ Stout ain't making like he hasn't made winning gamewinning plays.

7:49 He's holding CJ Strad and Nico Collins inability to stay healthy that's holding the team back.

7:54 Yeah. On on your on your Windsor quarterback stat argument. I think I think it it it has some some just merit because we see quarterbacks in this league have to go out there and put the team on their back and they are the complete difference on their team. But we also have seen, look, whenever you have a good solid squad, the one person that can hold them back is the quarterback. And right now, CJ Stout is holding one of the best teams in the entire NFL back. Just point blank period, he is. That that was one of the best teams in the National Football League this year. And him not being just subpar, him being ab an abomination of football is what you called him yesterday. Like like him being that bad is what held him back. And also it's 100% merited the the the the the slander or the conversations that we're having about him and his future. I mean even with Ryan Clark's tweet, brother saying

8:41 that the man needs to do some soularching at the playoff game where your defense forced five turnovers. Are you crazy?

8:46 But here's my thing. What are we talking about? Pull up the tweet again. Y'all read the second paragraph. Read the read the second.

8:50 Yeah. No. He said, "The Patriots defense is on a heater. Where was all of this talk about the quarterback's future when they dominated Justin Herbert last week? CJ has some soulsearching. He needs to progress, but he's the Texans guy. It's all about adding value going forward.

9:05 Here's my thing. [sighs] If you gotta do some soularching, then I don't think you can say somebody has to do soularching and it's for sure the guy. Like, that's a homeboy take. And I I know a homeboy take when I see it. I'm not mad at a homeboy take. I every now and then give homeboy takes, too. If you start someone off with so and so's my little bro, well, of course you need to make sure he gets paid. Like Ryan Clark gave a homeboy take. The homeboy take is I'mma protect my homeboy. But the fact of the matter is like if you telling him to do some soularching and to say he's 100% the Texans guy, then you just don't care about the Texans that much. You care more about CJ Stra than you do the Texans, which is a homeboy take.

9:45 You know what I mean? Like if if you're not willing to say the Texans have to consider what to do at quarterback, not saying they need to move off of Straoud, but you have to at least consider what are we going to do and do we have a capable backup?

10:01 And my thing is like when you're the head coach and you watch this game with the GM, what do y'all say to each other?

10:06 Cuz I heard you after the game, right? And I know Domingo Ryan, he he a team first guy. So you going to speak up for your players, but when whenever when all the emotions is out, right, and the relationship with you and CJ, you know, you put that to the side and now you got to put the the coach's hat on and and the coach's whistle

10:22 and you go watch tape with you and your offensive coordinator. And let's say you watch it with the GM.

10:27 Let's say you watch with the owner as well. Talk about it. What are we talking about? We we're not saying, "Damn, that's just one game because we going to watch the last game before that." And look the same way there. There's no way that if you're if you're confident and you're trying to sell if even I'm a fan I it's hard for me to sell a fan on the future of the Texans when you watch these performances from CJ Stra these these last two years let alone these last two playoff games

10:51 and the the the worst thing about this whole thing people won't not understand this is the life of an NFL player you could be hot one day you could be cold tomorrow he could be your favorite player today and tomorrow he's not and I think we're having that conversation when You talk about the Ryan Clark what he said and different people talking it's like yo

11:10 yeah we like CJ cuz he's a likable dude he he's he's a great role model but then he talks about

11:16 and his rookie year he was phenomenal and we said that and we said that and we love that and we still feel that but now we got to change our mind because a a person that that we were really friends with said yo sometimes you got to update your information and when you update his information on this brother it's telling you that yo we got to look in the different direction to get another quarterback.

11:38 That's the truth, bro. And I like CJ Style. That is the truth. And And to me, I I think we do have to have that conversation.

11:44 And he a brother, so I'm going to take it a little easy cuz he's a brother. You know what I mean?

11:46 Yeah. It's just It's also tough whenever Davis Mills comes in and he goes four and one in his five starts. And those four and those five games that he had to play against were actually against stiffer competition than CJ Strad did.

11:56 Yeah. And CJ Strad even though like he he won games as well. He's nine and five as as a starter this season. And two of those games he ended up having to leave because Davis Mill got hurt. But brother, I mean, Avis Mills went out there against Jacksonville, they beat them. Went out there against Buffalo, they beat them. Went out there against the Colts whenever Oh, the Colts were past their prime at that point. But like, he he's had himself good games as well. So, I think I think with CJ, it's it's it's got to be a real conversation about what his future looks like and and whether he's the he's the face of the franchise at quarterback. It just moves that fast. But

12:27 that has been the show. It has been an amazing show

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "The Speakeasy crew EVISCERATE Dan Orlovsky for C.J. Stroud take"?

Dan Orlovsky (Guest), Chad Johnson (Host), Shady McCoy (Guest), Ryan Clark (Guest).

What is "The Speakeasy crew EVISCERATE Dan Orlovsky for C.J. Stroud take" about?

The discussion centers on C.J. Stroud's disappointing performance in a recent game, prompting strong criticism from the Speakeasy crew. They also analyze Dan Orlovsky's controversial assertion that any other quarterback would have secured a win for Houston, sparking a debate about the level of scrutiny facing Stroud and the team's future prospects.

What is mentioned in this Speakeasy episode?

10 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including C. J. Stroud, Houston Texans, David Mills, Ryan Clark, Dan Orlovski, Jalen Hurts. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "The Speakeasy crew EVISCERATE Dan Orlovsky for C.J. Stroud take"?

The episode runs 13 min; the transcript is about 2,681 words in 44 timestamped sections.

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