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3 critical factors to watch for at Houston Texans training camp
Jul 28, 2023, 2:32 pm
All eyes are on rookie QB CJ Stroud. Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images.
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Training camp is FINALLY underway! Teams, fans, and media are all excited! You get updates every hour or so about what's going on. Sometimes, you'll get updates every few minutes depending upon if practice is going on, and if it's open to media and the public. The weather is either very hot, or somewhat manageable, contingent upon where camp is located. The open practices where fans can attend are always the best experiences. Many won't get that close to their favorite team's players and coaches ever again.
Camp takes on a different feel for teams with new coaching staffs and/or prized rookies. For the Texans, that feel is exponentially greater due to the new coach being a former player, and them having two prized rookies. Add to it the way the last few seasons have gone, and it's easy to see why this year's camp has a much different feel. Since this camp has a different feel, I have some different things I'd like to see coming out of this camp:
QB position clarified: C.J. Stroud should be named QB1 any minute now. He already has the one thing you can't teach, accuracy. Now all he needs is chemistry with his receivers to create that anticipation and timing, then master the playbook. Case Keenum was brought in as a veteran backup/mentor. What better guy to learn from than someone who's been the ultimate QB2 most of his career. Davis Mills needs to understand this “competition” is to show him off for other teams to maybe make an offer for him. In no way should he be on this roster when the final 53 is settled. Thank you for your time. We wish you well on your future endeavors.
Three-headed monster: The wide receiver position is still murky. I see a bunch of WR2s, 3s, and 4s. Of the 13 guys at the position in camp (and maybe more if they add to it), I'm guessing five or six may make the team. Of those five or six, I need three of them to establish themselves as the clear-cut WR1/2/3. Ideally I'd love to see the three of them, whoever they are, come out of camp with an uncanny connection with Stroud. That'll take more time than what they have in camp. But I believe three of these guys can step up and show themselves as the three best in this bunch. This would help ease the tension in the room when the WR position talk happens.
The lynchpin: DeMeco Ryans has said he'll be calling plays this season. As a former defensive coordinator and linebacker, he is uniquely equipped to get the most out of that side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Matt Burke has 20 years of NFL coaching experience behind him. DeMeco coached against him the last couple of years and hired him because he feels he can help shape this defense in the image he envisions. I'd love nothing more than for them to have a firm grasp as to how they want to call plays, situations, and personnel. In other words, I'd like to see this defense be the calling card of this team from day one. Offenses tend to take time to establish themselves. Defenses can take advantage of this early on in the season. What a sight it would be to see this defense being able to take advantage of an offense for a change.
The first two have to do with the offense because it's been abysmal the last few seasons. A rookie QB drafted number two overall puts the offense at the forefront. It's multiplied when there hasn't been a ton of talent at the WR position. When your new head coach is a defensive guy, the defense will be the other focus. A few pieces here and there coupled with a good scheme and play calling can lead to a complete 180 on defense. That defense needs to firmly establish itself early as the staple for this team until Stroud and the offense can catch up. Let's take a look when the season starts and see how close they are.
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C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.
Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”
'Everything is on the table. We have to get it fixed' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on offensive line and if personnel changes are being contemplated @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/AwK0rqeU2z
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.
They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.
Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.
Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.
“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”
Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.
'I have all the faith in Tank' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans expressed confidence in Tank Dell ability to get back to making explosive plays again as he did as a rookie @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/bojBEx3lYo
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
What's working
The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.
Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.
What needs help
The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.
Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.
Stock up
RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.
Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.
“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”
Stock down
Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.
Injuries
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.
Key number
3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.
Next steps
The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.