1st & Goal: Denzel Perryman, Houston Texans Linebacker

The NFL season is inching closer and closer.

Who are the contenders and who are the pretenders? We have four downs to figure out your team's future. It's time now for First and Goal on the Zach Gelb show. Alrighty time to preview the Houston Texans and we'll do so with a new outside linebacker for the organization. He used to play his ball with the Chargers and also the Raiders now in year number one with the Texans. That is a 2021 Pro Bowl linebacker and that of course is Denzel Pereman kind enough to join us on the Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio.

Denzel, appreciate the time. How you been? Oh man, thanks for having me man and I've been great man.

Well I'm doing fantastic and appreciate you jumping on board with us. So the position you play linebacker, clearly you get to learn a little bit from a great linebacker and your head football coach in D'Amico Ryans who was an exceptional player in the NFL. How has that relationship been going with the new head football coach of the Texans? Oh man, it's been going great man and like you said, I get to learn a lot from a great linebacker. Just yesterday we had a five minute break and I remember we talked about a couple plays in practice and he actually walked me through a couple techniques, how I could be better and every day it's not just me, it's with every single guy on the team. Every moment that he has to coach us up, he takes that moment and he takes the time to do it man and I love it and I'm pretty sure the other guys on the team appreciate it also. And he was a fantastic leader when he played for the Texans and also the Philadelphia Eagles and we've seen what he's been able to do the last few years with the San Francisco 49ers, but you never know how that transition is going to be going from a player, a defensive coordinator to a head coach. Just kind of take us through the vibe right now and the early impressions of this Texan squad.

Ah man, the other impressions man, you know, I say everybody would give the shorts over right now wearing pads and it's just putting it all together. Like you said, it's a new scheme, it's a new system for a lot of guys and a lot of players. Some of the guys they're playing on the same system, but just getting that camaraderie together, everybody just forming, getting on one page is what it's all about. And right now, you know, it's been really exciting, man. It's been exciting, you know, guys making plays on both sides of the ball.

A lot of the young guys are standing out and just involved with it, man. You've been in the NFL for a while now, since 2015. You've made a pro ball going back to that great 2021 season. What type of year do you think you could have now joining the Houston Texans? Ah man, I'm just trying to have a healthy year, man. You know, that's been, you know, my goal, you know, since I've been playing, you know, just to have a goal for a healthy year. Just, you know, do my job, man, wherever they, you know, put me in, you know, wherever my role is, you know, on the team, just the best that I can be. And, you know, you know, you know what you're getting out of me, so.

Let's get to the next down. Denzel Pereman here with us. You were talking about some of the youngsters. Third overall pick, Will Anderson Jr. out of Alabama. We know what he's capable of. What has stood out to you so far with Will Anderson Jr.? Ah man, Will, he plays angry, man. I ask him every day, like, you know, who made him mad?

You know, it's like 730 in the morning, you know. He doesn't have to look on his face, like, you know, he's just ready to go. But, you know, his physicality, you know, his quickness, you know, his closeness. Just, you know, just the way he moves, man. He doesn't move like a rookie.

And that's his focus, you know, with the way he is on the film room and the way that he takes, you know, what he learns, you know, from individual period, you know, and carries it on to, you know, the same period. It's really, like, incredible to watch. I'll tell you, when I look at the defense, I see that secondary with Jimmy Ward, Jalen Petrie, Derrick Singley Jr. You got Shaq Griffin as well. It looks like you got some serious players on the back end of this defense. Man, it's a lot of playmakers, man, in every position room, man.

And that's what I love about, you know, this team. Overall, man, you know, each position group, you know, there's playmakers, you know, there's some, you know, some guys, you know, O'odham and Younger, you know, both play, you know, all playmakers. Like I said, man, we're just coming together, you know, the guys, you know, teaching, you know, the younger guys, you know, some of these younger guys, some of these older guys, you know, some of these things also. Have you been able to learn anything from Melanderson Jr.? Just wondering when you say even youngsters teach some old guys some things?

Man, just his motive, man. You know, I played with Thomas Davis, man. The Thomas Davis always said, man, you know, young guys, you know, they keep them going. And me being, you know, going on year 9, you know, I feel that energy, man, you know, just seeing somebody, you know, go every single play, you know, non-stop, you know, no matter how hot it is, you know, how tight it is, you know, he's going a thousand miles per hour, you know, and that's this motivation, man.

Let's get to the next down. Denzel Pearman here with us from the Houston Texans. So in my business, all we do is talk, right, head coaches and quarterbacks. We've already talked about your new head football coach in D'Amico Ryans. What has stood out with the second overall pick out of Ohio State, the quarterback in CJ Stroud so far? Man, that's the way he carries himself, man. You know, you know, he is a rookie player. He doesn't carry himself like a rookie. You know, you know, he speaks up, you know, like a pro and, you know, he's, you know, he's back there competing, man. And I think, you know, under pressure, you know, he, you know, you're making great breeds and, but you got to come out to a practice, man, to watch it, man. How would you describe his leadership skills? His leadership skills, man, like I said, I mean, he calls up, you know, when we, you know, break down the team in the, in the morning, you know, he's a guy, you know, giving, you know, the words of encouragement, you know, giving those, you know, those words, get everybody right from practice. You know, he's that guy at the end of the practice, you know, if coach doesn't call anybody up, you know, he still, you know, might be that guy, you know, to say something. But, you know, it's just natural for him. Let's get to the final down.

Denzel Paramin here with us. So, you know, this football team was 3-13 and 1 last year. You've been around the league and seen some good teams, seen some bad teams. What type of team do you think this Texans team could be and how much of a stride they can make here? Man, it's going to be a team to watch, man. And like I said, man, this new system, you know, it's a new program for a lot of people right now, man. We're just putting it together, man.

And, you know, just iron shopping line every day, man. We're just taking one step at a time and, you know, we're going to see, you know, season over, know how the thing will go. We've talked about C.J.

Shroud. We've talked about Will Anderson Jr. You being new to this team and having to learn your other teammates. Who have been some other guys that have really stood out to you or impressed you?

Man, a lot of them, man. I can start from the older guys, you know, Jimmy Ward to even going off the side to Robert Woods, Damian Pierce, you know, L.T., Titus Howard, then go back to the defensive side of the ball. You know, I can go back to, you know, Jerry Hughes, you know, Christian Kurski, Christian Harris. You know, I can give you, like, the whole roster, to be honest with you, man.

You know, everybody's standing up to me. You know, they're all new teammates, all new family members, you know, all new brothers, and, you know, we all just getting better, man. Let me ask you about your old team and the Raiders. How would you describe playing for Josh McDaniels last year? Well, man, it was new. Definitely, you know, to a new scheme, a new system.

I do everything. You know, he's a great coach. And, you know, just like, you know, every new coach on the new team, you know, just rebuilding that. That's what we were doing last year.

So, you didn't sense any dysfunction, because a lot of people say that was a dysfunctional team last year. Well, man, I was just trying to, you know, be on the field, man, and, you know, stay healthy myself. So, man, that was last year, man. I'm focused on, you know, the Houston recognition, man.

And, like I said, man, you did a nice job tonight over here. Last thing I'll ask you, I know you're a Hurricane, going to be year number two of Mario Cristobal. Are you optimistic that your Hurricanes are heading in the right direction? Hey, man, they're making changes also, man.

I feel like everybody makes changes out of their programs. But down there in Miami, man, they brought the right guy. And, I mean, I'm not saying that, you know, other guys and they weren't the right guys. But, you know, Coach Cristobal, he's from Miami. You know where to go and, you know, how to, you know, build a football team, man. So, I'll be rooting for him, man. But, you know, like I said, you know, I'm focused over here, you know, what we got going on over there, man. Well, Denzel Paramin, good luck on the move to the Texans and start a new chapter with them. And always appreciate it when you carve out a few minutes for us. All right. Thank you, man. Thank you for having me, man.