Just look at everything the Houston Texans have done so far this offseason. Under the guidance of head coach DeMeco Ryans and first-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley, the team is revitalizing its offense to meet the challenges ahead. The Texans have recently made a big addition to their roster in new quarterback C.J. Stroud. More importantly, they are committed to improving their success on the pitch.
C.J. Stroud has stepped into the starting quarterback position. On the field, he attracts more attention than others, and in person his demeanor is as fiery as his playing style. On Saturday and at other recent practices, he showed a unique escapability to make broken plays into first down scrambles. That skill will prove to be most invaluable as the season progresses. Stroud impressed the importance of communication with his centers—Jarrett Patterson and Juice Scruggs. He understands that their joint work will be indispensable for implementing the new, more aggressive approach to offense.
“It’s just me and the center. So if that’s [center Jarrett Patterson] or [Juice Scruggs], I must have good communication with those guys and relay to everybody else what’s going on. Nick is doing a great job teaching us that, so it’s a lot more ownership.” – C.J. Stroud
Texans are starting to fit new pieces into their starting lineup. They can now reasonably expect to field four new starting offensive linemen and two new starting receivers. This big change is just one piece of a bigger effort to improve performance and flexibility overall. The addition of running back Nick Chubb infuses the offensive depth chart at one of its most vital areas. For one, he could fill in for Joe Mixon if Mixon isn’t ready for Week 1, now that Mixon has been placed on the non-football injury list.
Throughout the practice, Stroud’s improvisational ability stood out as he moved the pocket and worked through his progressions while facing pressure. Stagnant on a defense that made its mark forcing pass breakups. These enormous actions resulted in field goals and demonstrated a fair fight between each side of the ball.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans said he was pleased with how the offense as a whole has looked through the first couple days of padded practices. He added that getting into camp and putting on pads helps guys build that chemistry and understanding in more realistic game situations.
“You see things evening out more when you put the pads on,” – DeMeco Ryans
Stroud took to Twitter to highlight his increased involvement in the new offensive structure. He pledged to accept greater responsibility this season than he has the last few seasons. He pointed out for one that his previous offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik hardly ever made him set pass protections. This change presents different challenges, to be sure, but it offers unprecedented opportunities for development.
“This is more of a quarterback’s offense where you’re [identifying], calling the shots, switching protections if you need,” – C.J. Stroud
The Texans’ dedication to honing their craft is clear in the attention to communication and connection in every step of practice. Nico Collins provided his thoughts on learning the new offense. He discussed the need to reset your expectations of what terms mean and what strategies are.
“[There’s a] new offense, new cadences, new words I’m saying, new terms, so you got to erase your old playbook. You have to reset that, erase all that terminology you’ve been programmed with to learn new words that mean different things. So that’s why we camp, so we can iron out the details.” – Nico Collins
Players have a limited amount of practices, but with every chance they are cashing in on invaluable reps that they hope will yield dividends on game day. This live-fire situational practice is key to forming a tight unit that can carry out elaborate plays in stressful high-pressure situations.
Ryans has praised his quarterbacks for their accuracy in passing, which he believes is vital for the Texans’ success this season.
“Our quarterbacks are doing a really nice job placing the football in the right spot,” – DeMeco Ryans
As training camp continues, Texans fans should look forward to an exciting season coming their way. New talent and revamped offensive strategies should combine to light up the scoreboard! C.J. Stroud’s leadership prepares this team for November. At the same time, DeMeco Ryans’ coaching philosophy combined with Nick Caley’s innovative offensive mindset provide the best recipe for a dynamic future.
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