u/bingmyname

OK don’t execute me, I know how unrealistic this is going to sound and I know I will have to go visit these areas myself but this is what I’m looking for:

For now just an apartment since I find know if I’ll stay in Houston and even if I do, where I’ll be staying. I can do up to 2k per month although I don’t think I’ll be wanting to spend that. It’ll be just me so just a 1 bed, 1 bath will do. Not interested in studios. I would prefer a place where I can have a small work desk station but I can squeeze it in my bedroom if not. Must have washer and dryer in unit, ac and preferably a covered garage but I guess any reserved parking will do.

OK now here’s the tricky part for me - I want to live in an area that is fairly walkable but also has decent traffic so I can enjoy driving. Yes I know this is Houston lol. I work from home so not concerned about commute or going out during the peak traffic hours but I plan on doing more social events and volunteering so I will need to get out probably after 6:30pm so the less congestion in the area the better. It also means the roads must be well maintained, as I drive a car low to the ground and care about my car (big fan of night drives). This is key for me and I’d really like this balance. With all this being said, I need to be around 20-25 min from downtown at most. I also don’t want to be around a bunch of families which is the current case here in Katy. I want to be around other single, young folks.

I did some preliminary research using Google’s AI, don’t kill me but these are the neighborhoods it recommended:

ITL:

1. Washington Corridor
2. Upper Kirby
3. The Museum District

OTL:

1. Memorial city
2. Sugar Land Town Square

So I need additional recommendations, advice, shared experiences, warnings and whatever else you can give me. I’m looking to move early next year and will start my searches very soon. Thanks

I was window shopping upgrades for the ecoboost, as one does from time to time, and stumbled across crate engines that would apparently fit. Does anyone have experience or actual knowledge about crate engines? I plan to keep the ecoboost and maybe turn it into a project car so if the engine ever blows or if I just feel like throwing money at it for fun, maybe I’ll consider swapping the engine instead of scrapping the car.

QB:

1. CJ has to be poised. Guys are going to generate pressure. It’s the NFL. The 49ers game was great because he stood fearless and delivered strike after strike despite pressure in his face.

2. Set protections correctly. Get to the line fast enough and set those protections. He has to be good at it. The reason Brady saw such consistent pockets is because he set the protections correctly. This is HUGE this year. Possibly number 1.

3. Keep the easy things easy. I don’t want to see another instance of a clean pocket and wide open receiver waiting in the end zone turn into an interception (see lions game).

WR:

1. You have to block. If DBs are asked to get in run support you have to as well. Duh. It wasn’t good last year.

2. It’s crucial to be on the same page with CJ. It should have more often than not that you’re on the same page not the other way around. Especially in crucial situations. It fell apart too many times last year on 2nd downs which resulted in 3rd and long.

3. Somebody gotta win one. Too many times guys aren’t getting separation quickly enough. Go make a play. Every down someone should come open.

TE:

1. Please stay healthy. The league is moving towards TE heavy offenses so what is Caley supposed to do if you’re all hurt?

2. We need to be equally great in pass and run calls. This is crucial for keeping defenses off balance because if you’re going to have heavy TE sets that suck in passing then it’s obvious you’re running and vice vers.

3. Be the safety blanket consistently. We have a variety of TEs but all should be able to be a good release valve.

OL:

1. We can’t just be good vs the bottom half of the league and be utterly garbage against the top. That gap needs to close and we should be sound against every defensive rank.

2. This line is built to run block with Caley’s vision and Caserios experience in this scheme (no more WC unfamiliarity). I want a top 10 run game. If we can’t do that then we didn’t do enough in the off season. But most of these guys have run blocking pedigree. It better be on full display. Bully people.

3. We have to be consistent and sound in protections. Can’t have 2 or more guys losing on a single play almost instantly. If someone loses that’s fine because CJ is EXCELLENT at rolling. But he doesn’t have great agility to dodge guys so if it’s 2 or more it’s a problem. We can’t just be losers. They’ll win some by you dang sure better as well. No more Chris Jones wrecking the game by himself on back to back to back plays. That was inexcusable.

RB:

1. Woody left a lot of meat on the bones last year with suboptimal vision. If this can improve the run game goes a long way forward. Jawar had a great game because the OL was opening lanes that Jawar could get through better than Woody was getting through. Need to use the holes to an advantage.

2. Passing game. Of course being reliably receiving options is great but also being sound in pass blocking assignments.

3. Help this team in the red zone. We were AWFUL last year partially because we couldn’t run at all in the red zone. It needs to be much better not just running but passing as well.

I want to see how yall would build around these players, assuming optic and faze don’t change (they could but let’s assume they don’t). Try to be realistic:

-Lurqx
-Kremp
-JoeDecieves
-Neptune

Bonus if you can build a team that would help elevate these young promising players:

-Nejra
-Traix
-Wevy

After that report about how other GMs questioned how Caserio is going to keep this team together I realized that we only really need to keep the core 4 players and we will always have a chance to be a good team. So which players are included?

1. WAJ - Best edge rusher in the league outside of the freak in Cleveland. Not only that but he sets the edge against the run, embodies the SWARM identity and is a leader. Easiest pay day ever.

2. Sting - there’s been talks about Kamari being more important but that’s just because Kamari has an infectious energy. Let’s not forget how good Sting is. He shuts down a number 1 and STILL gets turnovers AND plays the run game AND is responsible on and off the field. Sting embodies SWARM just as much as WAJ he’s just not vocal. I love Lassiter and I believe in him the moment I watched his tape back on draft night. But Sting is a rare talent so he makes the core 4 here.

3. Collins - freaky length and speed combo with crazy fluidity. I think his best season is still ahead of him as the offense and CJ matures. Only thing I need from him is better blocking and to stay healthy but he hasn’t missed that many games. Just goes out for at least 2 a year it seems. Still a top 8 or so WR in the league. Until that’s not true, pay him.

4. CJ Stroud - hate on him as much as you want for the Pats game, I understand. But the truth is he’s held together an offense that has had no run game, no consistent pass blocking and no identity whatsoever for 2 years now. He’s made plays bad QBs just can’t make on the regular. Good QBs have bad games. Bad QBs can’t consistently bail out their OL. CJ just needs to mature and be disciplined and he’ll be fine. We’ve seen evidence of high level play but he needs to establish a floor and play consistent. He’s going into year 4 where usually a lot of the pocket qb legends start to break out (Manning, Brady, Brees, Big Ben etc.). Ideally CJ is a part of the core 4 that you pay.

This probably eats up most of the cap but think about this - the OL & DL should be young and cheap by the time CJ and WAJ contracts kick in. We’ve built and identity on both sides now so development should go better. That is how good franchises operate. We all believe in Ryans and his coaches to develop LBs, Caserio to find secondary players and good WRs day 2. The Texans are built for the long haul with 4 core players who can be top 10 at their position in the league.

Oh and Happy Mother’s Day. Call your moms and maybe I’ll call them too.