THE TEXANS PROBE HAS A NEW YOUTUBE HOME! @DrewScouts & @TexansJacob are moving the Texans breakdown podcast to a new youtube specifically for the Texans Probe! New episodes will still be weekly during the season & some mixed in during the offseason as well. Link to YT below ⬇️

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.

C.J. Stroud locked onto this dig on 4th & 1 with just over 2 minutes left which allowed Jordan Battle to make a great play on this dig. If he comes off the dig here, Kayshon Boutte probably has a walk-in TD to the backside. Not sure what his progression is or if he could have gotten there with the pressure but just one of the few plays where Stroud would probably want that one back.

The Texans had chances down the field that were missed due to various reseals on with another one to Hutchinson on the final series. Not sure if Stroud expects Hutchinson to bend this one inside or if he just misses, but you could see Stroud’s play decease in the 2nd half which is understandable in the situation.

Texans play out of 11 personnel with Hutchinson, Boutte, and Wayne on 3rd & 13 in the redzone and it goes about how expected. Stroud does a good job creating a scramble drill situation with pressure but still nowhere to go with the football.

Here is some good stuff from C.J. Stroud that he's shown over the past 2 weeks. Great pocket movement under pressure to give Woody Marks a chance on 3rd & 8 with nobody open downfield.

Missed opportunity between C.J. Stroud & Jared Wayne near the end of the 3rd quarter. Looks like Stroud expects Wayne to stay outside at the top of the route & Wayne bends inside towards the safety.

Really nice throw from C.J. Stroud to Kayshon Boutte on a first & 20. Tough pocket for Stroud to step up in & he still rips the dig with anticipation into the open space for Boutte to avoid a hit. He’s played too well for the team to be 0-2.

The Texans asked both Wyatt Teller & Keylan Rutledge to come across face and seal Dexter Lawrence on back to back run calls which went about as you would have expected. Probably not the guy you should be challenging here.

Good call from Nick Caley here with a out and up for Dalton Schultz who is open, but Trent Brown and Aireontae Ersery throw off the timing. Mafe with a win on Brown forcing Stroud to step up, then Ersery loses to Howell, and Stroud gets hit while throwing.

Excellent rush from Sheldon Rankins here saves a touchdown with poor communication from Kamari Ramsey & Calen Bullock. Not concerned about Houston’s front 4 at all, the secondary needs to clean up their mistakes however.

C.J. Stroud did an excellent job tucking this football away on 3rd & 9, then finding his outlet even if it wasn't converted. Stroud didn't make the same mistake as his first fumble being loss with the ball and Houston was able to pin Buffalo to their 4.

This is a great job from Jaylin Noel throttling down into the open space and giving C.J. Stroud a window to throw this with the miscommunication in the secondary. Noel had some issues with stuff like this as a rookie (route depth & understanding coverage) but did an excellent job here.

C.J. Stroud led Houston down the field on the drive immediately after the fumble with 2 great throws to Klein & Collins + a great sideline ball to Boutte that he couldn’t hang onto. Was great to see Stroud quickly bounce back from his early mistake.

The All-22 of the final 2 sacks confirms that unfortunately, there wasn’t much C.J. Stroud could have done. After what was a great day for Stroud & the offensive line, they weren’t able to protect him in this situation.

Beautifully executed 2 minute drill from C.J. Stroud after Houston goes down 10. - 5 Plays - 86 Yards - 2 Explosives to Nico (via PI) & Noel Stroud had multiple plays of generating holds/PIs that will not show up on the stat-sheet but made a big difference.

C.J. Stroud’s first dropback of 2026 being a strip sack wasn’t ideal. However, I think he made the right decision looking to take off here. Just need to protect the ball. Looking like he was thinking about ripping the ball to Nico on the deep in-breaker but covered well and pressure from Bradley Chubb moves him off his stop.

Josh Allen making this throw to beat Reed Blankenship to the sideline is why he a MVP & likely the best QB in the NFL as we sit here today. Houston has made these plays in the last 2 years but didn’t yesterday and they lost because of it. Can’t really fault Blankenship too much here considering if that is likely 30 other QBs it is an INT.

C.J. Stroud explosive play rate over his career: 2023 - 17.5% 2024 - 14.7% 2025 - 13.5% Stroud has seen much more two-high shell & nickel looks over the last 2 seasons.

Texans personnel grouping % against the Bills last year via @SumerSports: 11 - 51.8% 12 - 5.4% 22 - 5.4% Jumbo - 37.5% Have a feeling that looks very different today.

My players to watch during the Texans week 1 match-up vs. the Bills. - Year 4 C.J. Stroud - New additions at C/DT/WR - More! jacobbarzilla.substack.com/p…