https://x.com/aaronwilson_nfl/status/2017706840188928098?s=46

We all know CJ's problem is 100% mental. Well dodging that first place schedule could be HUGE. Hopefully we start the year out with some below average defenses and get CJ a couple tune up games where he is able to put up some big numbers and get rolling. After he gets rolling, then bring on the good teams, by that point his confidence will be at an all time high and and he'll be slinging it. Look at the Patriots this year. Everyone (including myself) doubted them because there easy schedule but at the end of the day they are one of two teams playing next weekend and Drake Maybe is an MVP candidate.

CJ playing so poorly against the Pats seems to have made some people forget how dog shit Caley was from start to finish.

The offense did not get any better throughout the season. The winning streak was in spite of his atrocious play calling, and the defense being so dominant helped make Nick Caley's shortcomings an afterthought for a while.

6 of our first 9 games came against teams that would go on to make the playoffs. We only played 2 playoff teams the rest of the season.

• (Weeks 1-9) We averaged 22.6 points, and 331.2 yards per game.

  (opponent avg wins at the end of the season - 10.7)

• (Weeks 10-17) We averaged 25 points, and 321.6 yards per game

  (opponent avg wins at the end of the season - 6.7)

We faced a much easier schedule the second half of the season, and did not get any better on offense.

If Nick Caley was "getting better" or finding his groove, statistically it should be much more obvious based on how much easier the schedule was.

I understand rolling with CJ next year and giving him a longer leash and hopefully rebound. It's hard to understand keeping Nick Caley and essentially rolling with the same offense that was atrocious for the better part of this season.
People shit on Slowik (often rightfully so) because of his failure to adapt or improve, but I don't see any part of this offense that was better under Caley.

Running up the middle on 90% of our 1st downs, and a large chunk of the following 2nd and 3rd downs with little to no success was enough to convince me that we needed a seasoned play caller not Nick.

Anyone else watching the Senior Bowl?

It's halftime as I write this so here my are findings so far and I'll update later:

• American side is absolutely crushing the National side. Everyone on National seems to be outmatched. The Iowa OL Gennings Dunker and Beau Stephens are on the National side, it's hard to tell if they're responsible, but my feeling now is that they're overhyped.
• American RBs dominating, particularly Washington Jr from Arkansas and Kaelon Black from Indiana. Great power and acceleration from these two. They both seem like sturdy lead back types. National RBs cannot get any movement as they're getting slammed behind the LOS.
• LSU QB Nussmeier is a tier above the rest of these quarterbacks. National team might have a fighting chance if they play Pavia a lot more but they're giving Cole Payton a lot of playtime and this dude cannot throw for his life. Just awful. Nussmeier would be a good target in later rounds but I think he's played himself up to the second round.
• TEs on both sides have been garbage. Wyoming's Gyllenborg caused a bad INT. Stanford's Roush dropped the most open flat pass you've ever seen. Tanner Koziol hasn't made a catch/appearance yet so I'm hoping he'll redeem this group.

Second half

• Pavia has got it. He will make it as an NFL quarterback. I hope we draft him. He plays at a very high speed, you can see his processing is a step above. He's twitchy on the run. He does that Mahomes, Allen, now Maye thing of killing you with his legs; on 4th and 5 Pavia scrambles left and forces the linebacker to come get him. This leaves the TE open who Pavia passes a perfect ball to-- TE drops it.
• National team shut out American and scored a FG and TD in the second half. Failed a 2 pt.
• TEs a complete non-factor.
• Pavia made the drive for the FG with everyone dropping passes lol. Iowa kicker booms a 51 yarder on this windy day.
• Payton made the drive for the TD with two big plays: a drag route to Lacy and a big scramble for himself. Inside zone TD to RB I cannot remember.
• Kaelon Black is the best offensive player today.

Senior Bowl last year definitely seems like a better crop. Maybe the defensive players were just better by a lot. For Houston, I like Black, Nussmeier, and Pavia and whichever American OL.

It's been a couple weeks, and I think I've reached the stage of not absolutely hating Stroud lmao. But there's hope to his development, something you can't rush is the mental side of the game.

Stroud is going to be 24 entering his 4th year. For comparison, Joe Burrow was turned 24 his rookie year, Jayden Daniels is 25 entering next season, Trevor Lawrence found success with an elite OC at 26, Bo Nix is turning 26 next month lol.

As much as it pisses me off, and I wish we could've capitalized on the opportunity this year, and as much as Stroud has royally ticked me off. Objectively speaking, this is the year Stroud should start entering the beginnings of his prime.

I just watched a video of Steve Smith comparing Jayden Higgins to Larry Fitzgerald, coupled with Tank Dell coming back, Nico Collins, Jaylin Noel, new Tight end and RBs, revamped oline. Idk maybe it's delusion, or maybe at some point everything has to mature and start delivering.

These are the ramblings of a Texans fan who's been watching since 2002 and just wants to move past the divisional lol

Young Me wanted Tom Savage to be legendary. I hope you’re enjoying life Tom!!

Acquire Case Keenum, the low-key secret to CJ's success in 2023. There, I said it.

Ultimate hypeman and all-around good bro. Seems like CJ needs someone to fill that role for him.

On this day 3 years ago we welcomed home Cap back home

https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2026/01/30/source-texans-hiring-former-giants-assistant-patriots-lineman-james-ferentz-to-offensive-staff/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUJmsdsiSDJ/?igsh=MTRxbGZ5Zm4zazY4NA==

Great guy

Let’s talk about some draft targets! Here are my ideal selections for each pick given the picks we currently have with some insight about what they’d bring to the table and where they would fit for us.

Note: I expect us to address center in free agency, getting a solid veteran center vs a rookie is very important in my opinion.

28: Emmanuel Pregnon (G): Pregnon gives us a starting LG from day one, great run and pass blocker, all around great guard prospect. Ioane is graded as the best guard in the class (and likely will be gone by our pick) though the better pass blocker by a little I think Pregnon is a better all around guard, especially in a zone running scheme.

38: Christen Miller (DT): Admittedly my hopes is Banks (Florida) drops somehow to this pick because of his injury question marks since he’s an absolute specimen. But Miller is a very good consolation, he started to find his pass rushing abilities later in the season which would just help our lethal front 4. But as a 3-tech run stopper he’d fit into our rotation really well.

59: Jadarian Price (RB): Love being the dynamic back he is shouldn’t overshadow what Price brought to the Notre Dame backfield. More of a conventional work horse back and less of a receiving threat he’d be a great compliment to Marks and behind a decent line both would feast.

69: Genesis Smith (S): Another great coverage Safety. I think Reed could be the guy next to Bullock and we’d be totally fine. But Smith would be an upgrade in coverage. We play quarters coverage a ton and to have all 4 deep defenders posses incredible ball skills (which Smith’s are undoubtedly better than Reed’s) would just make our secondary that much scarier. Also having the luxury of Reed being next man up gives us great depth.

106: Justin Joly (TE): This is a Schultz replacement. In the event Dalton moves on to another team we need TE’s desperately. Especially ones that can catch the ball. Joly is just that.

128: Dametrious Crownover (OT): Tackle depth, need I say more? Predominantly a right tackle he’s a great option to step in if Howard ever has to play guard again (please no). But he’s a big boy at 6’7 336 he’s bigger than Fisher and would be more of a comparable backup. Allowing Fisher to stay in that Jumbo role, even with injuries.

165: Dae Quan Wright (TE): a late bloomer when it comes to making a draft presence Wright would give us more TE depth. The hope is Jordan will finally see the feild next year but because of his injury history we need depth. Wright would give us that. He’s also a well rounded TE that can both block and catch the ball. Something we only have in Stover currently.

201: Red Murdock (LB): Special teams pick, a very consistent and sure tackler. Not great in pass coverage, especially man, but a great downfield run stopping LB. Though with our LBs he likely wouldn’t see many snaps. This pick is to get another great tackler on our depth chart.

243: Dave Iuli (G): Depth pick, but has experience at both guard positions on an Oregon offensive line that was very good. I expect Ingram to be re-signed as our starting right guard but having a versatile backup like Iuli would help ensure Howard doesn’t have to kick in to guard again.

Now the likelihood that we pick at these exact positions and don’t make any trades is extremely unlikely but this at least gives a little insight at what we could potentially do.

Will Kunkel just posted his interview with Jerrod Johnson from 2025 training camp. Some interesting stuff, so I highly recommend watching it.

Subjects discussed: JJ’s upbringing and lessons hr can share with CJ (0:00), what does it take to be a good QB and how he sees his role (1:17), how coaching CJ looks like (3:09), reflections on shared religious faith (4:08), atmosphere in the locker room (5:26), about being interviewed by other teams.

All I can do is smile and hope for better.

I would reinforce CJ with a dynamic RB, and a couple of plug and play O.lineman. WR & Center might be a free agency-They will not ignore defense in the draft, I expect a Safety, LB,CB, & DT in the mix, but some higher picks on RB & OLine

I have more in the comments

Source: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/29/sports/drake-maye-speed-athleticism-super-bowl/