Texans’ C.J. Stroud has big-picture perspective on state of new offense: ‘Not something that happens overnight’

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – C.J. Stroud prides himself on maintaining an even-keeled demeanor and a positive attitude.

He’s admittedly tough on himself, qualifying as arguably his own biggest critic.

And the Texans’ star quarterback works diligently on everything from the finer details of his cadence, studying the playbook, relationships with teammates, even his fun, special handshakes.

Keeping a big-picture perspective is pivotal for the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year while competing against an elite defense as a new offense is being installed by offensive coordinator Nick Caley. Although Stroud and the offense have had some difficult moments with interceptions and pass protection breakdowns, it’s largely a function of defensive excellence and aggressiveness and the normal growing pains of an overhauled offense still finding its way.

“Every day we’re growing,” said Stroud, who has led the Texans to two consecutive AFC South division titles in his first two NFL seasons. “Everything’s starting to come a lot easier. We’re starting to make more plays, know what guys are good at in the scheme and trying to fit the guys to do those type of things. So, it’s not overnight.

“Our defense, they’ve been together for three years almost, a lot of the same guys. So, they’re making calls and checks quicker, sometimes, than we can and then it’s vice versa. So, I think it’s good. We’re one of the best, I think the best, defense in the league and it’s been hard but it’s also very great for us to get a good challenge every day.”

Yes, there have been challenging times for the offense. The offensive line, when Cam Robinson is back from a leg injury, is expected to be comprised of him at left tackle next to left guard Laken Tomlinson with Jake Andrews in the lead at the center competition ahead of Jarrett Patterson, Tytus Howard now at right guard and rookie Aireontae Ersery at right tackle.

The wide receiver corps is talented, but it’s a lot of new faces. That includes Christian Kirk and rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

A former New England Patriots tight ends coach and Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach and passing game coordinator, Caley, 42, brings a fresh energy and a high-octane approach with plenty of new creative ideas.

“It’s exciting, it’s very great,” Stroud said. “He comes from a different style than I’m used to, at least in the NFL. So, it’s cool just to learn something new and put another tool in my toolbox. To the other point, sometimes in our scheme, our defense, it’s not going to work against them.

“But, just to get the reps down, even though it might not even work, it helps. I think he’s very positive when it comes to that. He understands that. So, I think it’s been great to just get down our foundation and now we’re building from more of a game-plan emphasis. I think that’ll be fun.”

Heading into a pivotal third season, having previously led the Texans to a pair of AFC South division titles, the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year has taken on greater ownership and autonomy over an overhauled offense that became stagnant last season under former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

While absorbing a ton of sacks and hits and watching his statistics decline behind a failing offensive line and adapting to an injury-riddled receiving corps, Stroud never complained. Ultimately, the Texans took major steps to try to upgrade the offense from a personnel standpoint. And Slowik was fired and replaced by Caley.

Stroud is embracing all of the change while being analytical about his own growth as a leader. It’s a new day for the Texans and their quarterback in his third season playing for coach DeMeco Ryans.

Stroud is maintaining his big-picture perspective and keeping a positive attitude. He realizes the importance of never looking discouraged when things aren’t going right.

“It’s hard, I’m very competitive,” Stroud said. “I don’t like losing. I don’t like making mistakes. But, I would say in those moments, try to just breathe, relax, try to just calm my mind and just try to just find something positive. I always try to remind myself; this is cool. I’m in the NFL.

“God didn’t have to bless me with this, but he chose to, and I got to steward it the right way. I can complain every day if I really wanted to, but there’s no positive in that. So, I try to just try that and just be grateful for the little things and even though they’re not little, they’re huge, they’re big. I woke up this morning and I’m able-minded, able-bodied and I’m just blessed to have that. So, I would say that helps me be more positive and have better body language.”

A former second overall pick and Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State, Stroud, 23, has won a pair of AFC wild-card round playoff wins. He has completed 66.1 percent of his throws for a combined 976 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in the playoffs. In the regular season, Stroud has a 19-13 winning percentage with 63.5 percent accuracy, 7,835 yards, 43 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and a 93.7 passer rating.

Stroud’s numbers dipped last season to 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions one year removed from an epic rookie season that’s one of the best quarterback performances by a first-year player in NFL history. That wasn’t entirely on him, though. He was on the ground a lot, sacked 52 times in the regular season. He was sacked eight times and hit 14 times overall in an AFC divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now, he’s learning a new offense. It’s akin to learning a new language.

“It’s a little different just because I know more coverages,” Stroud said. “ know style trees. I know coordinators. I’ve played against a good amount of different schemes, so it’s a little easier. Then, there’s a lot of similarities from what Nick is bringing to what we were doing in the past. It’s a little similar in those lights, but it’s not as hard as my rookie year was. My rookie year was like learning Chinese. This year is a little bit of that, but not as much. It’s a little easier.”

Winning for Stroud takes on a different form in terms of his responsibilities this season in a new-look offense that includes dramatic changes to the offensive line after trading five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil in addition to adding Kirk, Higgins and Noel to go with returning Pro Bowl selection Nico Collins.

Learning from Caley, who worked previously for Rams coach Sean McVay and Patriots coach Bill Belichick, is significant for Stroud. And he sees some parallels between McVay and Caley.

“Definitely, you can tell that those two guys are very close and they talk the same,” Stroud said. “They have the same tone of voice, which is kind of funny, same energy. ‘Cal’ [Caley], he’s a little turnt up. Well, not a little. He’s a lot turnt up. He’s turnt up to the max and I’m more of a chill guy, at least, on the field, so it’s good.

“It’s like yin and yang. But he helps me, I help him, I think. But, he’s very Sean McVay-like, and so when I met Sean last year at practice, it was very similar to what I get now in practice or in meetings.”

An overhauled offensive line has had its share of issues at training camp, especially trying to block star defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.

“Yeah, it takes time,” Stroud said. “Especially the first couple of days, no pads. It’s not always easy. I think that’s the best defensive line in football right now, with just how they get off the ball, to edge guys Will and Danielle are crazy athletes. They rush together, they rush as a unit. I think it’s just making us nothing but better. I think you don’t want to continue to just say the defense is good.

“You want to start seeing progress and seeing plays being made. I think we’ve seen that these last couple of days. So, it’s helpful for me to start going through reads and be able to go through my full progression when the offensive line is picking everything up. They’ve done a great job of continuing to work and keeping their head up, staying confident because it’s not easy going against those guys every day, I get that. But we have trust that those guys, our guys are very talented too on the offensive side of the ball.”

Stroud now has the freedom to audible and change protection schemes, which wasn’t happening under Slowik. The relationship between Stroud and Slowik deteriorated as confidence in the former San Francisco 49ers assistant declined. Slowik wasn’t adapting and making halftime adjustments. And Stroud couldn’t make the changes he wanted to make under the previous setup. That isn’t the case with how Caley is approaching Stroud’s role. Stroud has the ability to institute change and take on greater leadership over an offense that includes returning quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, whom he’s worked with since his Elite 11 days in high school, and new senior offensive assistant and pass game specialist Jerry Schuplinski.

“This is more of a quarterback’s offense where you’re IDing, calling the shots, switching protections if you need,” Stroud said. “It’s just me and the center. 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 is Jerry and Jerro. It’s a lot more ownership.

“I think it’s an opportunity to grow there. Every year there is a leadership role I can learn a little more. I think that gives me another edge where guys, if you change the play or do something good, guys can say, ‘Okay, we can trust this guy.’ That definitely helps leadership.”

Stroud would like to play a bit in a Saturday preseason road opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

“It’s been good to play against our defense and them to go against us,” Stroud said. “A lot of good-on-good. Yes, it’s about that time. Guys are just tired of each other. They want to play somebody else.”

As Stroud goes, so do the Texans. It’s a lot for Stroud to work on, but it’s a privilege he embraces.

“From that quarterback perspective you want that ownership,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “You want it to be on your plate so to speak. C.J., he’s looking forward to it. He’s open to it. He wanted it and we’re here. And so, I think he’s done a really fantastic job so far.

“Caley has done a really great job working with him. They’re getting on the same page, making sure the terminology, everything makes sense so we can get in and out of the huddle fast and play fast and operate clean. We’ve been doing that.”

Role model and friend Tom Brady won six Super Bowls in New England running a version of the offense Caley is installing.

Stroud has been watching vintage film of Brady from the formative years of the Patriots’ offense. While Caley has influences from Rams coach Sean McVay during his time as tight ends coach and passing game coordinator and working for Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick in New England, he’s putting his own stamp on the offense that he plans to adapt to the Texans’ personnel and change to attack every game plan depending on the opponent’s strengths, weaknesses and tendencies.

Stroud hasn’t consulted with Brady about the offense, but he’s watching his past handiwork to learn an offense that includes a lot of motion and movement before and at the snap and option routes for the receivers and quarterbacks as they read the defense. There’s also a plan to establish the run and become more physical.

“Those clips are always great to watch, somebody do it and at such a high level,” Stroud said. “He’s not like physically imposing his will but mentally whopping guys, play in and play out. I want to get to that. Like you said, they started back in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003.

“It’s been a long time that it’s been the same offense. This is my first year, it’s not going to be what I watch on film yet. I’m sure that one day it will. I haven’t talked to him, but I’m sure if I did, he would have some advice.”

Stroud and Caley are already off to a strong start in their relationship.

“He’s doing a good job,” Caley said. “I enjoy being around him every single day and growing every day. So, it’s been a lot of fun.”

Caley is a coach with a lot of energy and high-octane attitude. He gets up early every day fired up and ready to go. Stroud is a lot more laidback in terms of personality, but they’ve meshed well in their collaboration.

“Nick is a fiery young coach who loves to yell and run around,” Stroud said. “I love it. He brings juice to the building every day. So, I’m excited to work with him every day and try to build a relationship. He’s done a good job relating to the players and always asking us what we want, how we want to do things and making it player owned. I love that of him.”

For a franchise with ambitions set on making a deep playoff run, Stroud represents a key figure in everything they’re working toward. There’s a strong belief in Stroud in the locker room, from the coaching staff and at the top of the organization from ownership.

The interactions on the field, especially with outspoken new safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, have been fun for Stroud.

“He’s a different cat,” Stroud said. “He’s a great guy. He wants to be a locker room guy, he is a locker room guy. Very friendly, very cool. Me and him mesh well. His first day, I texted him and welcomed him on the team and was just excited to have him.

“I think it’s dope because he’s coming off some, a lot of playoff experience and Super Bowl experience. So, he doesn’t do nothing but help us. He’s doing a great job of just helping us all around.”

Stroud is determined to control the controllable. For him, that means everything: strategy, attitude, the whole nine yards.

“My attitude, my play, my communication. I think those are some things I can control,” Stroud said. “I’ll try to do that as best I can. I think we won some games and went to the playoffs and did some great things. Everybody is different, different personalities, different people. We got to adjust on what people like. For me, my job is being a servant, so I’m trying to serve others.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com