Charean Williams expects Pittsburgh's Buddy Johnson to 'light it up'

Key notes from Charean Williams interview

• I had to watch the Cowboys-Texans game, and you didn't miss much by not watching. For the Texans, they signed 53 players in the offseason. There is so much turnover with that team that they need the reps and game situations, so it was probably more important for them than the Cowboys, considering how little the Cowboys' starters played.
   
• It'll be interesting to see how teams use the shorter preseason. The Cowboys will not play their starters in week four of the preseason, and the Buccanneers will play their starters this week to get them ready to face the Cowboys on Sept. 9. I think it's a mistake by the Cowboys to rest their guys, and I think you'll see the Bucs come out more ready to play. There is a lot of concern on my part with how the Cowboys are thinking. It's going to be a really tough start.
   
• Hard Knocks last week was terrible, and I hope this week is better. The first episode wasn't bad, but the highlight was Jerry Jones eating his McGriddle and then the Dak Prescott stuff. Last week was a let down. This is a team where the star is Jerry Jones, and I want to see more of him in these episodes. It'll be interesting to see what tonight's episode brings. Maybe Hard Knocks' shelf life is up and people aren't going to watch a reality show about the NFL? I didn't even write a post about last week's episode.
   
• David Culley has Aggie ties, and he was a receiver coach at A&M. That coaching staff they had under RC Slocum was incredible, and Gary Kubiak was a running back coach. I got to talk to Culley some after the game. They signed 53 players, and 30 of those players have five years of experience or more. This team should be better than most expect, but when I say that, I think they'll win five or six. By no stretch do I think the Texans will play for the division title. They'll have a top draft pick. This is a well-coached team. You see the difference, and the players see the difference. When you talk to the players, it's different. I wish this coaching staff could've coached those Texans teams from two or three years ago. This was a team that was up 24-0 on Kansas City early two years ago in the playoffs. Nothing has gone right since then. They have a long way to go, but this might be the best coaching Houston has had since the Kubiak era.
   
• There is a rumor about the Bills possibly relocating to Austin. I think the Cowboys and the Texans would be opposed to that. I don't think the Bills are going to leave Buffalo, and they're certainly not going to Austin if they do leave. I think that's a college town and will always be a college town. I think they're using this for some leverage. Jerry Jones would be opposed and would have veto rights and territorial rights.
   
• The problem with Kellen Mond is practice time. He got COVID and missed 10 days of practice. He had two days before his first preseason game. He's a rookie and a rookie with no practice time. I'm not sure what people expect from a guy who as just in virtual meetings and then had to go out. Of course he's going to struggle. Minnesota does not want him to play this year. He's not going to be ready if Kirk Cousins gets hurt. If they go get a veteran backup, it doesn't mean they're done with Kellen Mond. He's going to sit and watch this year. He'll get a ton of reps, and he better make the most of all those before practice or after practice reps. This is a learning year for him, and there is no reason to lose your mind after two preseason games with just a handful of practices.
   
• Nobody is going to be surprised in Aggieland when Buddy Johnson lights it up. He could be a candidate for defensive rookie of the year because of the team around him. Pittsburgh is learning they made a really good draft pick with Buddy Johnson.
   
• We'll see what the alliance leads to. If I'm Baylor, Texas Tech, TCU or SMU, I'm worried about what the future of college football looks like. I was talking to a scout who had been all around the country visiting colleges. Coaches think that damage has been done to college football. I think there are going to be many changes coming over the next five years, and it'll be interesting to see how this thing ends up. I'm not sure what the endgame is going to be, but it'll probably be four power conferences with everyone else getting left behind.
   
• I think they need to start getting that quarterback ready because you're down to a handful of practices before the season starts. I'm excited to see who it is and what happens with this season. I keep looking at the calendar, and I'm pumped to start. We have college football coming, and it's so exciting. Hopefully, we have a great season. I'm a fan of college football and Texas A&M. I'm not on the inside quite like I am with the NFL. Looking at that schedule, they should be favored in every game except Alabama, and that gets me even more excited.