BoB said the same thing. People give him a lot of crap, for granted reasons, but he was great at milking all the talent and success out of his offenses. Caley is from the same tree, with some tutelage from McVay. I am very positive on the hire.

Texan_Aggie said:

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BoB said the same thing. People give him a lot of crap, for granted reasons, but he was great at milking all the talent and success out of his offenses. Caley is from the same tree, with some tutelage from McVay. I am very positive on the hire.

---

BOB was terrible as a coordinator. He wanted so badly to be versatile and be able to attack from different styles/formations that his offense had no identity at all. They tried to do a little of everything and were average or below at all of it. Jack of all trades, master of none. Look at where his offenses ranked while he was here...they were never very good.

Caley is likely to craft an offense with elements from both the "Patriot Way" and what he has learned from McVay in an attempt to best utilize the players we have. We'll see how that works. Hopefully he leans way more into what McVay did, because the Patriots offense has never done much when Tom Brady wasn't running it.

I don't know if I agree. He had top 15 offenses in ever year but 2016 (Brock Osweiler), 2017 (lost Deshaun during week 8) and 2019. He got the most out of mediocre QBs, which goes to game planning and scheming. I do think his scheme was too complex for the players to some extent.

Top 15 = Top 1/2...Is that really all that impressive?

Plus you're basically saying he had top half offenses in half the time he was here. That's not really a ringing endorsement either.

I never said elite, but yes better than half the league is "good". Especially with the context of doing it with Fitzpatrick/Mallett/Keenum/Hoyer/Mallett/Yates/Weeden. His bad years were Osweiler and Tom Savage.

He was a good offensive coach, not elite, but didn't have a lot to work with more than half of his time with the Texans.

New Hire

https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2025/02/05/sources-texans-expected-to-hire-rams-senior-offensive-assistant-jerry-schuplinski-a-former-tom-brady-quarterback-coach/



Was the assistant QB coach during a lot of the patriots run and has some position coaching experience here and there. I'm assuming he's here to help Jerrod accelerate CJ's understanding of the offense.

can't go wrong hiring guys that used to work with Brady!

Good interview with Nick Caley on Texans Radio

W said:

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it's interesting looking at the playoff history of the Oilers and Texans

they both have the same problem:

terrible on the road -- especially at cold weather venues

in the Super Bowl era...the Oilers + Texans are 4-16 on the road in the playoffs

2 of the 4 road wins were at warm weather climates: 1978 at Miami and 1979 at San Diego

neither franchise has played a road playoff game in a domed or roofed stadium -- one of the downsides of being in the AFC

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I don't think that is just a Houston thing though. Road games are tough to come by for everyone cold weather or not. But once you brought up the subject, I did want to take a look into some of that data too, which is surprisingly hard to come by. I did find a site that references all playoff games from 2011 to 2021 so I took a look at that data (https://thehuddle.com/2022/01/10/nfl-playoff-winners-home-vs-visitor-from-2011-to-2020 ), and in a 11 year set, it looks like having home advantage in the divisional round is absolutely critical in the playoffs, which does align to where we hit our wall.


Wild card
48 Games (added the extra wildcard games in 2020)
Home team record 26 - 22
Home team wins 54% of the time

Division Round

44 games
Home team record 32 - 12
Home team wins 73% of the time

Championship round

22 games
Home team record 15 - 7
Home team wins 68% of the time

That 73% win rate in the divisional round is a little staggering.

IrishAg said:

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W said:

---

it's interesting looking at the playoff history of the Oilers and Texans

they both have the same problem:

terrible on the road -- especially at cold weather venues

in the Super Bowl era...the Oilers + Texans are 4-16 on the road in the playoffs

2 of the 4 road wins were at warm weather climates: 1978 at Miami and 1979 at San Diego

neither franchise has played a road playoff game in a domed or roofed stadium -- one of the downsides of being in the AFC

---

I don't think that is just a Houston thing though. Road games are tough to come by for everyone cold weather or not. But once you brought up the subject, I did want to take a look into some of that data too, which is surprisingly hard to come by. I did find a site that references all playoff games from 2011 to 2021 so I took a look at that data (https://thehuddle.com/2022/01/10/nfl-playoff-winners-home-vs-visitor-from-2011-to-2020 ), and in a 11 year set, it looks like having home advantage in the divisional round is absolutely critical in the playoffs, which does align to where we hit our wall.


Wild card
48 Games (added the extra wildcard games in 2020)
Home team record 26 - 22
Home team wins 54% of the time

Division Round

44 games
Home team record 32 - 12
Home team wins 73% of the time

Championship round

22 games
Home team record 15 - 7
Home team wins 68% of the time

That 73% win rate in the divisional round is a little staggering.

---

I don't find the divisional round numbers staggering considering it involves the 1 and 2 seeds playing the lower teams after having a bye week.

True, I guess thinking back on it, it does make sense it would be a higher percentage than the Championship round.

I'm just glad we play in the AFC South which has afforded us that many wins and repeated playoff berths (8 divisional championships since 2011) that other divisional competition might not have.

So, to keep the talking points going leading into the combine. Battlered put out their list of 4 potential WR targets for the Texans next year

https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/2/20/24368822/houston-texans-free-agency-wide-receiver-targets-nfl

1. Chris Godwin - sounds just like wishful thinking of clearing some cap room and then getting him. Personally I think we need to focus on people who don't have durability issues.

2. Stefon Diggs - I think we should move on at this point, he was good before he got hurt but I don't think he's worth it to just "be good". Also saw that Green Bay is taking a look at him

3. Elijah Moore - holy crap, didn't realize he's only 24 years old. He could be a great role player in this offense, especially for 4M a year.

4. Dyami Brown - he's 25 (not sure how he's older than Moore, who I swear has been around forever), so there not much wear and tear. They're saying his projected salary is around $1.9M, which I call BS on. No WR that looked that good in the second half of the season and in the playoffs will go for only 1.9.

Thoughts, any other players you guys can think of? I think we should stay away from some of the older targets (throwing Kupp in that list too), as we need some durability at the position. I also don't think we need a name guy, but instead guys that compliment Nico.

This new stadium talk is absolutely comical

Don't we owe Diggs $15 mil no matter what? If that's the case, then it makes complete sense to bring him back.

That 15mm isn't buying us a discount. He'd probably get top 10 money in FA. I still like the signing but it stinks it didn't work out.

mAgnoliAg said:

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Don't we owe Diggs $15 mil no matter what? If that's the case, then it makes complete sense to bring him back.

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I believe it's 15 million of dead money over the next 3 years or something like that. But it's not all at once, and as someone mentioned I don't he's going to take a discount on the contract.

I still think they need to take a close look at Cooper Kupp.

I know he has the injury history but he's exactly what they need to compliment Nico and there's familiarity with the offense coming over with Caley.

Assuming you can get the right value and not give up too much this would be a great move.

IrishAg said:

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mAgnoliAg said:

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Don't we owe Diggs $15 mil no matter what? If that's the case, then it makes complete sense to bring him back.

---

I believe it's 15 million of dead money over the next 3 years or something like that. But it's not all at once, and as someone mentioned I don't he's going to take a discount on the contract.

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Void years get accelerated to current year if the player isn't resigned, similar to how guaranteed money is handled if a player is cut. I haven't looked at Diggs' numbers but probably better cap wise to resign him.

https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/texans-considering-relocation-due-massive-stadium-renovation-hurdle-2034814

Quote:

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In seven of the last eight years, the Texans have made more on the rebates than they paid in rent, according to data from financial audits. That means the government essentially paid the team to play at NRG Stadium in those years. The lone exception was 2020."

---

I didn't realize that the Texans got that sweet of a deal from Houston. No wonder this is getting so much heat.

Houston Texans are reportely interested in 49ers Deebo Samuel pic.twitter.com/oRdhHrdggN

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) February 26, 2025

TyHolden said:

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Houston Texans are reportely interested in 49ers Deebo Samuel pic.twitter.com/oRdhHrdggN

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) February 26, 2025

---

This quote is a bit misleading. A reporter asked DeMeco if he was interested in signing Deebo and his response was something like "We're always interested in signing good players, and Deebo is a good player."

I didn't read it as they Texans are pursuing with any kind of vigor. Just that they are interest, just like they are interested in most free agent WRs.

https://texanswire.usatoday.com/lists/10-biggest-salary-cap-hits-for-texans-in-2025-ahead-of-free-agency/


So Tunsil is #1 at 28.8M, Titus Howard is #3 at 23.05M, and Shaq Mason is #5 at 14.05M for biggest cap hits in 2025 (Shultz is #6 at 14M). That is 65.9 (79.9 including Shultz) million towards the cap that seems horribly spent. I think we have to dump Mason, he looked old and slow last year. Do we attempt to trade both Tunsil and Howard, or just one of them for next year?


Cutting Howard post June 1st would save us 14.1 million of his 23.05 so not sure if that is worth it or not, but cutting Mason after June 1st would save us 9.4 million of his 14.6 million. Tunsil would only save us 11 million of 28 so not worth it and Shultz would only save us 500K on his contract so we've got him for another year.

Since I'm going through this, I'm guessing Denico Autry will be a post June 1st cut as it will save us close to 9 million of his 10.5 million hit this year.

I don't see them cutting Tunsil or Howard, but Shaq is gone. I get the sense they are somewhat stuck with what they have on the o-line and can make a few additions, but they baked in their OL personnel into their hiring decisions. Who knows if it'll pay off, but maybe scheme and coaching and plug some of the wholes we saw last year.

Additionally, one thing that contributed to the "bad OL" was awful TE blocking. I have to think the new OC will focus on this.

If they cut Tunsil, will he clean out his locker, but then stumble as he prepares to leave the facility for one final false start?

Texan_Aggie said:

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TyHolden said:

---

Houston Texans are reportely interested in 49ers Deebo Samuel pic.twitter.com/oRdhHrdggN

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) February 26, 2025

---

This quote is a bit misleading. A reporter asked DeMeco if he was interested in signing Deebo and his response was something like "We're always interested in signing good players, and Deebo is a good player."

I didn't read it as they Texans are pursuing with any kind of vigor. Just that they are interest, just like they are interested in most free agent WRs.

---

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2025/02/commanders-texans-aggressively-pursuing-deebo-samuel-trade


Well, steam might be picking up. I could see Debo working in this offense well....assuming he stays healthy

Ok, I have my first player that I am beyond infatuated with now

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/nick-emmanwori/3200454d-4d08-3509-4f43-ab1aefccbd0f

Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina
6'3"
220
4.38 40
1.49 10 yard split
Freaking 43" vertical
11'6" broad jump

Deebo to Washington.

B-Rabbit said:

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Deebo to Washington.

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Apparently Washington is taking on his entire contract and including the full cap hit next year instead of San Fran. So that makes sense why San Fran sent him there for a 5th

IrishAg said:

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Ok, I have my first player that I am beyond infatuated with now

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/nick-emmanwori/3200454d-4d08-3509-4f43-ab1aefccbd0f

Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina
6'3"
220
4.38 40
1.49 10 yard split
Freaking 43" vertical
11'6" broad jump

---

Yea he'd be great, unfortunately we have bigger positions of need so safety is not going to be a target. I'm assuming we'll target the following positions in the first couple of rounds.

1. DT
2. OL
3. WR

DT wise the only player 100% off the table right now will be Mason Graham. I think Nolen and Kenneth Grant will be off the board and I really like Derrick Harmon from Oregon, he's who I hope is there for us at 25.

On the OL my favorite guy is probably Membou from Missouri, I've seen him projected anywhere from almost the top 10 to dropping to us. Other guys would be Tyler Booker from Alabama and Grey Zabel from ND State.

The only way I see WR as a first round pick is if someone falls that we didn't see dropping to 25. This is a fairly weak WR draft with only McMillan projected as a top 10 pick. I've seen Burden mocked to us in a few drafts which would be an option if we don't resign Diggs. I'm really curious as to what Caley covets in a WR. I think this is more a day 2 pick for us so we could look at a guy like Tre Harris from Ole Miss who I like but is not a burner, but one of the best WRs out there when healthy. I also like Restrepo from Miami.

Wild card is TE, Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland will be gone and I think Arroyo from Miami and Mason Taylor are guys other teams will be enamored with based on their size. I like Harold Fannin Jr from Bowling Green, who if anyone forgot had 8 receptions for 145 yards and a TD against us when we played them. Last season he had 117 receptions for 1,555 yards and 10 TD's. He's not big for a NFL TE at 6'3" and 241 lbs or fast with a 4.71 40, but his output is tremendous. He had the most receiving yards in college football last year.

Oh I agree completely. I hope we go the Eagles route and stack the lines, in fact I would go BPA on either OL or DL for this draft outside of someone unexpectedly dropping.

Most of this 1st round will probably be shaped by how much the RBs start to filter in. I've seen a few mocks that now have 3 or 4 1st round picks going to RBs. If they start to creep in our selection at OL and DL will drastically improve.

I agree on DT

Agree that I don't think Membou will make it to us, but I am hoping Zabel does. Love his versatility for this o-line.

Agree on WR, I've seen some mocks having us take Egbuka, and I think he would be a good fit. But they also universally agree he's not a #1 level player, but a strong #2 WR. I'm not sure first round is where you take a guy that's a strong #2 WR.

TE, this is a tough one because I'm nut sure what Caley wants. Classic NE and LA TEs are all inline guys, so 6-5 range and 255+ range. If that's the case then Loveland and Fannin are out. Maybe Arroyo and Taylor would be fits.