HOUSTON — Contained in the Houston Texans’ assembly room final week, a debate broke out because the offense was making ready for the season opener in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts.
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was discussing a move play and the way he needed the receivers to run routes in opposition to the Colts’ Cowl 3 look. Receiver Stefon Diggs spoke up, saying he thought the routes ought to be shorter.
After a couple of minutes of back-and-forth between coaches and gamers, everybody rotated and checked out quarterback C.J. Stroud for the ultimate say. When Slowik requested him, he sided with the receivers.
That is the affect Stroud has in Yr 2. However that is additionally the kind of offensive command coaches challenged him to absorb the offseason. And it is the tactic that helped the Texans win 29-27 on Sunday.
Stroud threw for 234 yards with two touchdowns — each to Diggs. One landing occurred on an important fourth-and-goal play from the Colts’ 2-yard line with 4:45 remaining to place the Texans up 29-20. One other crucial play got here on third-and-11 when Stroud zipped a move in a good window to Nico Collins for a primary down with two minutes remaining to ice the sport.
Final 12 months, Stroud grew to become the fifth rookie to move for 4,000 yards in a season (4,108) and led the Texans to the AFC South title. Stroud additionally gained a playoff sport, making him the youngest quarterback (22 years, 102 days previous) to take action, earlier than falling one sport shy of the AFC Championship Recreation.
There’s excessive hopes for the Texans in 2024, and Stroud is the catalyst for all of it. Coach DeMeco Ryans’ principal ask of Stroud as a rookie was ensuring he took management of the offense, and now it is about directing his unit and being a coach on the sphere. Stroud is evolving as a frontrunner on and off the sphere — from inviting newcomers to his home and instructing them the offense to texting receivers clips from final season to debate routes and defenses. He additionally watched movie with Slowik to grasp how his playcaller sees the sport.
“Once we got here again within the spring and began working with guys, we honed in on sure issues,” Ryans informed ESPN. “For C.J., it was nearly taking extra command and he is achieved that. The person is a soccer junkie. That is the one factor you must have from the quarterback spot … and that is what permits C.J. to be nice.”
AT SUPER BOWL LVIII, as Stroud sat surrounded in a collection by the likes of singer Ciara, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin and Kim Kardashian, he was texting Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson in regards to the San Francisco 49ers’ protection.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes accomplished passes on back-to-back sequences in time beyond regulation in opposition to the 49ers’ Cowl 0 blitz. Stroud needed to debate how Mahomes attacked the protection. He needed this to be part of the Texans’ offense.
“[That exchange] simply confirmed we bought the proper man,” Johnson informed ESPN. “Individuals noticed him on the Tremendous Bowl, however he is sending textual content messages in regards to the precise scheme and performs whereas he is there. Soccer is at all times on his thoughts.”
When spring exercises started April 15, coaches labored with Stroud to extend his obligations within the offense.
“[Last season] when C.J. had command on what was happening, and we had individuals lined up in the proper spot and we have been doing what we have been imagined to do, we have been clicking and we have been rolling,” Slowik mentioned. “I’d say virtually each time we had any type of malfunction as an offense, it was as a result of we have been missing a kind of qualities someplace.”
Slowik confirmed Stroud their first win — in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 37-17 — in Week 3 of 2023. Stroud had 280 passing yards and two touchdowns within the Texans’ second-highest scoring output of the common season. Slowik highlighted how Stroud had to make things better pre-snap — lining individuals up accurately and speaking directions.
“[He] needed to do every little thing to maintain us on monitor,” Slowik mentioned.
Stroud watched hours of movie to grasp the playbook and stayed in communication with teammates all through the offseason, which helped his development. He additionally studied different offenses together with the Chiefs, Buffalo Payments, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions to steal efficient ideas and pitch them to teammates and coaches.
Stroud would textual content Texans’ clips in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Colts to “clear up on little [details] with routes,” Collins mentioned. Stroud would additionally ship YouTube clips of five-time All-Professional receiver Julio Jones to Collins since each are related in measurement and Collins desires to imitate Jones’ play.
When the Texans traded for operating again Joe Mixon and Diggs, Stroud invited them to his home to look at movie to show them their offensive scheme and present them how they are often included.
Mixon and Diggs have been a giant a part of Houston aggressively upgrading its roster this offseason, spending $244.3 million in assured cash, the fifth most based on ESPN Stats & Info. Along with Diggs’ scores, Mixon rushed for a league-high 159 yards and a landing in Week 1.
Mixon was introduced in to bolster a run sport that was tied for the fourth-worst yards per carry common (3.7) final season, and the Texans ended Week 1 main the league in dashing (213 yards). Diggs, who additionally had six catches for 33 yards, was introduced in to crew up with Collins and Tank Dell, who mixed for two,006 receiving yards final season.
“He broke issues down and talked in regards to the offense and what we wish to do and what we wish to accomplish,” Mixon mentioned of Stroud. “C.J. is an outstanding quarterback. The way in which he prepares every day. He is spending time within the weight room, he is spending time within the movie room and in addition, he is making an attempt to be taught. … I believe he does a hell of a job making ready.”
IN MID-JULY AHEAD of coaching camp, the receivers and tight ends went to Florida with Stroud to work on rhythm and timing on the College of Miami. He arrange a number of Airbnbs for the group and so they spent three days there, figuring out within the morning for roughly two hours.
One idea they targeted on was operating a submit in opposition to completely different coverages in Slowik’s offense, which focuses on throws on and between the hashes. Stroud threw 300 passes in that space final season, based on Subsequent Gen Stats. Tight finish Brevin Jordan referred to as it “breaking it to sunlight,” which implies if the protection has a two-high security look, they might run by the zone and have Stroud ship in that window.
In Stroud’s eyes, the time spent exterior of NRG Stadium is vital. The “extra camaraderie off the sphere and spending time with guys,” will assist construct belief, he mentioned. “When occasions are powerful, we will lean on one another.”
All through coaching camp, Stroud continued honing in on the small print — issues as small as protecting the huddle tight and ensuring everybody’s eyes are on him when he is calling a play. He is frolicked bettering his timing on a movement snap level for the reason that Texans motioned 386 occasions on move performs, tenth most. And although middle Juice Scruggs makes the offensive line safety calls, Stroud has made positive he has a robust understanding of what is being referred to as.
“When the quarterbacks get with us to go over protections, [Stroud] is extra outfitted,” proper guard Shaq Mason informed ESPN. “He is aware of the entire package deal now. It isn’t like ‘The place y’all gonna be?'”
Because the Texans put together for his or her residence opener Sunday in opposition to the Chicago Bears (1-0), it will likely be Stroud’s second regular-season sport in prime time (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). The Bears have No. 1 total decide in quarterback Caleb Williams, and their protection was a giant a part of their opening-week win in opposition to the Tennessee Titans, choosing off quarterback Will Levis twice.
However in Houston, the employees feels assured Stroud can be prepared for something defenses throw at him. Ryans believes his quarterback is “understanding your complete image,” as in comparison with final 12 months presently. Slowik has seen Stroud’s command go from simply doing his job to creating positive to “repair” every little thing round him to maintain everybody on monitor.
“Final 12 months, a variety of occasions C.J. needed to hone in on his personal job a lot,” Slowik informed ESPN. “Another person might be incorrect, however you simply gotta go do your job, and could not essentially proper the ship. This 12 months, he is achieved much more of having the ability to not solely do his job, however assist others get the place they should go.”
The Texans entered Week 1 with the fourth-best odds to win the AFC (+750) and seventh-best odds to win the Tremendous Bowl (+1600), based on ESPN BET. Now their Tremendous Bowl odds have elevated (+1300), and they’re tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the sixth-best odds. They’ve additionally moved as much as third in odds to win the AFC (+700).
However Stroud is aware of it is on him to deliver all of it collectively.
“I am the captain of the ship, and I’ve bought to run it the proper manner,” Stroud mentioned. “And I really feel like I’ve stepped into the position of not solely holding guys accountable, but additionally holding myself accountable to these moments. I do not let something slide.”
