The Houston Texans are one of those teams, as they prepare for the start of their training camp. An offseason story line has been the offense’s transformation with new coordinator Nick Caley at the helm. This adjustment comes after a challenging 2022-23 season for the Texans. They were noticeably ineffective, finishing 22nd in the league in yards per game (319.7) and 19th in points per game (21.9). The team seeks to enhance its offensive performance and build a cohesive unit in the lead-up to the new season.
C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ promising quarterback, returned to mandatory minicamp to take first-team reps after experiencing some setbacks during spring workouts. Stroud has been inconsistent at times. Still, he showed off incredible chemistry on deep shots with dynamic WRs Christian Kirk and Jayden Higgins. His ability to deliver sharp passes was a bright spot during the minicamp, indicating a potential upward trajectory for the offense.
“When it is time for us to start rolling, he is going to hop in and keep elevating us as an offense.” – Christian Kirk
Even though flashes of brilliance came in bunches, Stroud’s progression was hindered from his lack of throwing during key stretches of the spring. Kirk quickly turned into a safety blanket for him. He connected with Jackson on some deep sideline passes with really nice chemistry on display the last day of minicamp. As Stroud gets more comfortable in his new role, Kirk’s influence should be key in keeping the offense grounded.
The Texans’ receiving corps is still coming together, with veteran No. 1 receiver Nico Collins. With Collins’ position locked in, it leaves the rest as open territory. That leaves room for other players to emerge and take center stage. Stroud’s budding chemistry with Kirk and Higgins will be imperative as the team aims to diversify its offense beyond machine-gun running back play.
Other than the clear leap forward in the passing game, the Texans have some big problems on the o-line. Last year, they gave up 54 sacks, tied for second most in the league. The agency realized that part of the problem is that this is important for Stroud’s growth and prima facie, for the development of the offense.
Nick Caley has made no secret about his desire to have more skill sets and varied routes out of the backfield during camp. He wants to be more creative and use players’ strengths and weaknesses to develop a stronger offensive and defensive scheme. Coaching staff hopes these changes create an environment where players can put their skills on display.
Of course, head coach DeMeco Ryans couldn’t hide his excitement about seeing the development of this group continue as they head into training camp. He specifically lauded second-round pick Ersery. Most importantly, coaches rave about his natural versatility and think he has All-Pro potential to be a quality starter. Ersery has been cross-trained at both right tackle and right guard, showcasing his adaptability in different positions along the offensive line.
“I see Ersery, he’s steadily gotten better at the things off the field, of finding his routine, and also on the field, just seeing his footwork, his pad leverage is getting better, it’s improving,” – DeMeco Ryans
With training camp just around the corner, the Texans know there’s plenty of work still to be done. The integration of new offensive strategies under Caley and the development of key players such as Stroud, Kirk, and Ersery will be pivotal in shaping their success this season. The Texans are rallying to put last year’s failures behind them. Having embraced the right mentality of continued improvement, they are committed to developing themselves into an annual competitive contender in MLS.
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