My updated linktree which features my substack, Texans sleeper channel, Instagram and more! Plenty of content coming with just over 2 weeks until week 1. linktr.ee/JacobBarzilla

Conner Weigman’s redemption at Houston has been awesome to see. Outcast for Marcel Reed to being a draftable type of QB.

C.J. Stroud & Nick Caley have both talked about Jaylin Noel improving in the short-intermediate game and he’ll need to continue to do that to earn consistent reps. Big play for Noel to not come up with this ball on 2nd & 10. Would like to see him have wins in this area vs a man coverage heavy team like the Colts.

It’s a shame that UH is going to waste their best offense in recent memory because this defense is terrible. There is nothing from the front 7 and been unimpressed with the secondary so far.

The Colts defense have specifically struggled on early downs through 2 weeks via @SumerSports: +0.18 EPA/Play (32nd) 54.7% Success Rate (31st) +0.21 EPA/Pass (24th) 59.6% Pass Success Rate (32nd) +0.14 EPA/Rush (31st) 50% Rush Success Rate (30th) 9.06 YPA (29th) 5.48 YPC (31st) Houston has to keep C.J. Stroud out of 3rd & longs, which they didn’t do well vs the Bengals.

I really don’t see a QB in this draft class that should go ahead of Jeremiah Smith or probably either of the top 2 edge rushers.

Jeremiah Smith is a G word prospect.

Some teams are going to get ridiculous edge rushers with Dylan Stewart & Collin Simmons.

Texans are elevating WR Lewis Bond & S George Odom for week 3. Both players were elevated last week as well. The team also placed LB Jake Hummel on IR who will miss a minimum of 4 weeks.

The Colts defense has been really poor against the run through 2 weeks via @SumerSports. 0.16 EPA/Rush (32nd) 50% Rush Success Rate (32nd) 5.4 YPC (31st) 13.1% Stuffed Run Percentage (28th) Houston has to get back to their rushing success in week 1.

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was told by an NFL official to remove the name of Wafaa Akila, an 8-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, from his eye black during the Texans’ Week 2 game or he would not be allowed to continue playing, according to a league source. According to Reuters, Wafaa Akila was killed earlier this month by an Israeli airstrike. nyti.ms/4yWHU5I

Would be interested to see what Blake Fisher looks like if Trent Brown didn’t play on Sunday. Looked good in his start last year, had a strong camp, and is still on 23 years old.

Texans 1st read target share through 2 weeks via @FantasyPtsData. Would really want to see more schemed up touches for Jaylin Noel & Woody Marks.

The Texans did a nice job featuring their TEs/RBs in week 2 (@SumerSports): 24 Targets 21 Catches 215 Yards +0.48 EPA/Target Would like to see more of them continue to get those guys more involved without Nico.

Texans injury designations for week 3 vs the Colts: Nico Collins (Hamstring) - Out Ed Ingram (Groin) - Out Jadeveon Clowney (Knee) - Out Jake Hummel (Groin) - Out M.J. Stewart (Knee) - Out Trent Brown (Knee/Wrist) - Questionable

The conversation around Houston’s offense would feel much different if the defense was able to finish in week 1. Very frustrating game in week 2 and that showed how important Nico & Ingram are to their respective groups but I feel a lot better about the unit than I did at the start of last year and they turned into an average offense. It may take some time to find the right OL grouping like last year but I think they’ll be alright.

I’m really not seeing the “Nick Caley doesn’t adjust” stuff on tape and if anything he probably over-adjusted to the game flow. They tried both gap & zone scheme runs with no success, so they went towards 11 and threw the ball. They could have stuck with more 12/13 personnel for longer imo, but they also were already running against light boxes and had no success.

Texans are likely to head into Indy without Collins, Ingram, and Clowney who all missed week 2 as well. In what is close to a must-win for Houston, they have to find a way without their best offensive player.

Lesson of the season so far is that unless you are a Mahomes or Allen type of talent, it’s mainly about what is put around you. I believe Jordan Love is excellent but no QB can consistently play through what he did last night. Same goes for Stroud & Herbert over the last few seasons.

I mean this in the nicest way possible as somebody who only watches late season/playoff baseball. Who the hell is Lucas Spence?