Tag: C.J. Stroud

Texans OC Bobby Slowik on WR Stefon Diggs: “He’s one of us”

Bobby Slowik already believes that Stefon Diggs is fitting right into the system with the rest of the Houston Texans receivers.

Not everything was perfect Saturday for C.J. Stroud during Day 3 of Houston Texans’ training camp at the Houston Methodist Training Center.

The former No. 2 overall pick threw his first pick of the summer after overshooting a wide-open Tank Dell.

He missed Nico Collins on a post pattern that on gamedays would have led to a punt.

The Texans’ projected starting offense struggled to close out the day while the defense feasted on miscues in the sweltering Texas heat.

Stroud missed more on Saturday than he plans to for the rest of the summer, but he didn’t miss Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs streaking across the middle of the field.

If that’s the most significant takeaway from Saturday’s offensive production, consider that a victory for the long-term.

“I just love his personality,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said following practice. “He’s extremely competitive, he’s got energy, he’s got juice. I’d never been around him prior to this and I think I speak for the entire offseason and the entire team that he just – he’s fun to be around.”

Acquired for a 2025 second-round pick from Buffalo, Diggs seems to be the missing piece of a “five-head monster” for an offense looking to elevate its status to Super Bowl contention this fall.

Fans have already seen the dynamics of Stroud’s relationship with Collins and Dell. They understand there’s an established connection between the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year and tight end Dalton Schultz.

But where does Diggs fit into the equation? Based on Saturday’s showcase, quite well and perhaps even better than expected.

“He’s somebody who loves the game and doesn’t cheat it and that’s why he’s been successful and I think he’ll continue that success,” Stroud said earlier this week.

While Stroud continues to dish the ball around to all his targets, Diggs consistently has found ways to get noticed. On Saturday, he was the go-to option, hauling in three passes and turning up-field for what would have been first-down gains.

One reception went for a gain of 15. Another went for 12. The first play, however, might have been Diggs’ best one of camp. After initially beating Derek Stingely Jr., the four-time Pro Bowler made a second move on the third-year defensive back and broke free across the middle.

He then juked a pair of defenders for a 30-yard gain, placing Houston’s offense at midfield.

“He wants to help teach young guys. He wants to be a leader,” Slowik said. “He also wants other guys in the room, when they have something for him, to coach him and to teach him and get something from Nico, get something from Tank.”

Since arriving in April, Diggs and Stroud have been working away from the facility. The two worked out with Dell and John Metchie III in Los Angeles shortly after he was traded.

They later worked out in France during fashion week and again at the University of Miami’s indoor complex before reporting to camp.

Diggs has been the model of consistency since his days in Minnesota. He has six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons dating back to 2018. The All-Pro also has caught at least 103 passes per season since 2020, including a league-leading 127 during his first season with the Bills.

During his four seasons in Buffalo, Diggs led the NFL in total receptions with 445 and posted 37 career touchdowns.

The Texans have ample offensive talent outside, but Diggs is the proven commodity. Three months into his new adventure, Diggs already feels like part of the crew.

“That’s the number one thing that jumps out to me. He’s one of us,” Slowik said. “He’s a competitor, he loves football and he’s been a great dude.”

C.J. Stroud credits Ohio State for helping him deal with pressure

C.J. Stroud credits Ohio State for helping him deal with pressure #GoBucks

C.J. Stroud left Ohio State as one of the greatest to ever sling the rock for the Buckeyes and that has translated early in his NFL career with the Houston Texans. During his collegiate career, he loaded up his trophy case with plenty of honors including twice being named an All-American and twice earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. During his rookie season with Houston, he has already been named to a Pro Bowl and earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Last season no one knew what to expect, but this year the Texans have a huge target on its back and Stroud’s talents are less of a secret. He recently spoke on the increased expectations and how he deals with them and mentioned his alma mater. “We have a target on our back this year. That’s how you should want it and that’s what I’m used to, playing at Ohio State.”

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Josh Keatley on X.

Commanders QB receiving some love from ESPN’s ‘Get Up’

One former NFL player believes Jayden Daniels will have a better rookie season than Caleb Williams.

Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels received some moral support this week on ESPN’s “Get Up.”

The subject matter was NFL quarterbacks when Anthony “Booger” McFarland, an NFL veteran of eight seasons with the Buccaneers and one with the Colts, interjected his strong opinion.

“Don’t be surprised if midway through the season, we’re having a conversation that is very similar to what he had last year. Meaning, the number two pick, Jayden Daniels, looks better than the number one pick, Caleb Williams.”

“Just like last year with C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young. There are a lot of people out of Washington telling me this young man Jayden Daniels, not only does he look the part, but his teammates know he looks the part. Caleb Williams will struggle and I think Jayden Daniels will come out of the gate flying.”

“We’ll have this conversation, Greeny, mark it down, July 16 (whatever day this is). We are going to have this conversation again.”

McFarland was referring, first of all, to history. Indeed, the Carolina Panthers chose Bryce Young (Alabama) first, while the Houston Texans selected C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) second.

Stroud had a very good rookie season, while Young struggled. Consequently, by season’s end, it was unanimous across NFL circles that Stroud, not Young, had the better season.

Secondly, McFarland did not depend on logic or reports from either the Bears camp or the Commanders. His main ingredient was hope.

You see, those who may not be old enough to recall him in college, McFarland was a fine defensive tackle for the LSU Tigers before being drafted by the Buccaneers.

Commanders Wire would certainly love to see Daniels have a much better season than Williams. However, we also recognize that McFarland is simply looking out for his fellow LSU Tiger, and his bias is coming through loudly and clearly.

But we still hope he is correct about Daniels.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud excited to unleash ‘five-headed monster’ on offense in 2024

C.J. Stroud sees a new monster taking over NRG Stadium this upcoming fall with the Houston Texans

Who will be C.J. Stroud’s No. 1 receiver in 2024? The better question is, which pass-catcher will rank dead last in the stat line?

Stroud, the face of the Houston Texans, doesn’t believe that the Texans have a top-ranked receiver and a slew of names that fall into line. He’s sold on the idea that heading into Year 2, he’ll have a “five-headed monster” of offensive skill positions.

“It’s definitely super dope to have just a bunch of options,” Stroud said following the first day of training camp.

Stroud, who took home the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honors last season, might have a point regarding the personnel. The Texans ranked seventh overall in passing under first-year coordinator Bobby Slowik with a trio of talented targets.

The trio has been a quintet with the additions of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs. Both have proven their value as essential pieces on contending teams in Cincinnati and Buffalo, respectively.
Stroud, who became the fifth rookie in league history to throw for over 4,000 yards in their first season, already can see Diggs and Mixon meshing in with the returning talent.

“Stef is somebody who definitely can open up your playbook,” Stroud said. “But we have all of those guys around.”

The ‘guys’ include 2023 standouts Tank Dell and Nico Collins at receiver, plus Dalton Schultz at tight end. Schultz, who served as Stroud’s security blanket, is back for another stint after signing a three-year extension earlier this offseason.

Collins, who also agreed to a three-year extension this offseason, might be the NFL’s biggest riser at receiver entering 2024. Last season, he finished eighth in receiving yards and had eight touchdowns.

Dell, a third-round pick out of Houston, totaled h 709 yards and seven touchdowns before suffering a season-ending leg injury against Denver in early December. He’s back at full speed and seems eager to surpass the 1,000-yard marker.

Diggs, who’s led the NFL in receptions since 2020, not only enhances the Texans’ passing game but provides a level of leadership on offense. He’s been working with Stroud and Dell non-stop since arriving in Houston back in April.

On Thursday, Diggs pulled Dell aside following 7-on-7 drills to talk about hand placement when getting off the line of scrimmage. After practice, he was off working to the side with third-year receiver John Metchie on route breaks.

“The guys can learn a lot from a guy who has done it at a high level and for a very long time,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “They can learn some more tricks of the trade that maybe coaches don’t know that he can share with them.

“We want our veterans teaching our younger guys, and it’s really cool to see those guys working together.”

Stroud acknowledged the Texans will have a much more daunting task at hand this year. Houston, which secured its first division title since 2019, has gone from being the hunters to the hunted after posting ten wins last fall.

The Texans also have pulled a 180 schedule-wise, going from having one of the more straightforward paths to the postseason to one of the hardest.

Stroud is up for the challenge to duplicate the team’s success in 2024. He also knows that with the new additions, the Texans have the personnel to advance a step further.

“Last year, I was blessed enough to have no egos and everybody just wanted to see everyone do well, but also do well themselves, of course. When that’s in the locker room, it’s nothing but success waiting to happen.”

C.J. Stroud cracks the top 10 QBs in latest rankings from NFL coaches and execs

C.J. Stroud is already viewed as a top 10 quarterback by NFL executives heading into the 2024 season.

C.J. Stroud is just getting warmed up as he enters his second season with the Houston Texans. While that’s a positive for DeMeco Ryans and Co., it’s a nightmare for 31 opposing teams heading into 2024. 

Executives around the league tend to agree. Stroud, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, isn’t slowing down heading into his sophomore season and could be close to entering the “elite” category that ends with an MVP Award.

ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler surveyed NFL executives, coaches and scouts to get a feel about the quarterbacks heading into training camp. Stroud, who guided Houston to its first AFC South division title since 2019, was listed at  No. 7, sandwiched between Justin Herbert and Aaron Rodgers. 

“He’s as good as anybody, honestly,” one veteran NFC scout said. “He’s got to do it again, but the arm talent combined with taking care of the ball and the ability to process was impressive.”

Last season, Stroud joined Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only two quarterbacks led the league in passing yards per game and touchdown-to-interception ratio in the same season. 

Stroud, who threw 23 touchdown passes against five interceptions, also never seemed fazed by the limelight. On the biggest stage, he seemed poised to lead a comeback and played like a veteran.

One voter said Stroud “set the standard” for rookie quarterbacks after posting the third-most passing yards in NFL rookie history. 

“Has so much poise. He stands in the pocket and delivers the football,” an NFC executive said. “Stands tall. Doesn’t see colors coming at him.”

Stroud should only improve with another year in Bobby Slowik’s play-action system. Several voters pointed out that the two-time Heisman finalist was complemented by an exceptional supporting cast, headlined by breakout receiver Nico Collins, rookie Tank Dell and veteran tight end Dalton Schultz. 

Schultz and Collins agreed to new deals earlier this offseason and will be a part of Stroud’s arsenal through 2026. Dell, the third-round pick out of Houston, is under contract through 2026 as well.

Houston also brought in Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs to alleviate the pressure off Stroud having to play the role of hero. The Texans also will have a healthy offensive line for the first time since Stroud’s arrival last April.

Another voter, an NFL official, said Stroud has “cut down on the throws he would miss in college.” That has allowed him to build confidence in an offense that could lead the leauge in total yards and scoring this fall.

“The Texans have helped him with play-action and defined throws and he’s capitalized as a big, strong thrower with elite ball placement,” the high-ranking official said. “They’ve made it fun for him.”

Houston returns to training camp this Thursday. 

Texans skill position players land in top five of ESPN rankings

The Houston Texans have become an overnight sensation on offense in the eyes of ESPN

Every great quarterback needs a strong supporting cast. Entering 2024, the Houston Texans seem to have both.

While C.J. Stroud took the league by storm en route to helping Houston win its first division title in four years, the overall offense was a pleasant surprise. Houston ranked seventh in passing and 12th in total yards.

The run game hindered Houston’s chances to finish 10 in every metric, but that could change with the arrival of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon. The Texans also elevated their wide receiver room by trading for All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs from Buffalo for a 2025 second-round pick.

Stroud won’t be short of weapons this fall. On top of Diggs and Mixon, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan and John Metchie III are all back for another season. The Texans also planned for the future by drafting Stroud’s former teammate and Ohio State tight end Cade Stover.

But how good is Stroud’s supporting crew compared to the rest of the league? According to ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell, the Texans enter the season among the top-five units at No. 4.

“There’s no sleeping on the Texans. Collins, Dell and Schultz are all back, and this team has made major upgrades elsewhere.” 

Houston’s offense, which still features several question marks on the line, should put opposing teams on notice, especially in the passing attack. Collins proved to be a legitimate No. 1 threat after totaling a career-high 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns as Stroud’s top target.

He’ll be around for the long haul after agreeing to terms on a three-year, $72.5 million extension earlier this offseason.

Dell, last year’s third-round pick out of the University of Houston, was on pace to finish with over 1,200 receiving yards before suffering a season-ending leg injury. He’s cleared for the start of training camp and plans to be a focal point of the intermediate part of the field.

Schultz, who returns to Houston on a new three-year, $36 million deal, was Stroud’s security blanket on third down last season, hauling in 59 catches for 635 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Stroud in Houston’s wild-card round victory over the Browns.

Mixon, who signed a three-year extension worth $27 million after being traded from Cincinnati, offers values on the ground and through the air. He’s coming off his fourth 1,000-yard rushing season since 2017. Mixon also finished last season with 52 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns.

Everyone knows what type of target Diggs is when healthy. He’s posted six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since 2018. In Buffalo, the 30-year-old weapon finished with at least 101 catches per season, including a league-leading 127 receptions in 2020.

Diggs, who enters a contract year with the Texans, currently leads the NFL since 2020 in receptions with 445.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium for the start of training camp on July 18.

Ohio State football wishes you a happy 7-11 day, C.J. Stroud to Garrett Wilson

7-11 was open all night in the Rose Bowl

For much of the first half 2022 Rose Bowl, Ohio State football faced an uphill battle against Utah.

The Buckeyes trailed 21-7 midway through the second quarter, but then the 7-11 connection of quarterback [autotag]C.J. Stroud[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Jaxon Smith-Njigba,[/autotag] took the game over.

The pair combined for two 50-plus yard touchdown scores, but that was just the beginning of their day. They’d hook up once again in the 4th quarter to finally give Ohio State a lead at 45-38 and eventually escape with the win.

Both players put up video game stats, with Stroud throwing for 573 yard and six touchdowns, while Smith-Njigba caught 15 receptions for 347 yards and three scores. The 7-11 connection was born on that night and the Big Ten Network celebrated by sharing highlights of their record setting game.

Stroud’s passing numbers were a school record, while his six touchdowns tied for the record. Both were Rose Bowl bests, and he just missed the bowl record for passing yards by three.

Smith-Njigba did set the bowl record for receiving yards and a school record with the 15 catches.

It was a magical night for Ohio State, and it’s great to be able to celebrate the tandems impressive stats on 7-11.

Contact/Follow @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on X. 

Is Texans QB C.J. Stroud one of the top clutch players entering 2024?

Houston Texans star C.J. Stroud enters 2024 as one of the top clutch passers after a breakout rookie campaign.

The most important — and perhaps most underappreciated — trait of C.J. Stroud is his clutch factor. Despite being a rookie, the Houston Texans starting quarterback never seemed fazed when asked to deliver a win.

Stroud, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year, put the league on notice after guiding Houston to a 39-37 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with his game-winning 75-yard touchdown drive in under a minute.

A week later, Stroud followed up his career day with another victory over Cincinnati. With the score tied at 27, the former No. 2 overall pick completed 3-of-4 passes for 51 yards to set up a game-winning field goal by Matt Ammendola.

Even in losses, Stroud was impressive. Two weeks after defeating Cincinnati, the Texans needed Stroud to play hero ball again against Jacksonville. He delivered, completing seven passes for 69 yards to set up Ammendola for a 58-yard field goal.

Stroud was the x-factor for Houston en route to its first division title and playoff win in four years. It’s also why CBS Sports believes he’s the No. 2 among quarterbacks in “clutch factor” entering 2024.

“Nobody was better in the clutch than C.J. Stroud last year. The Texans converted on 6 of 8 game-tying or go-ahead drive chances late with Stroud under center. His numbers in those situations were phenomenal. 77% completion rate, 10.7 yards per attempt and a 139.5 passer rating.” – CBS Sports Doug Clawson

According to Clawson, measurements used to study “clutch factor” include two significant stats:

  • Quarterback conversion rate on game-tying or go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter and overtime
  • Expected points added (EPA) per play in these situations (looks at value added on all plays between rushes, passes, sacks and fumbles)
The study essentially looks into how a quarterback plays late in games in do-or-die situations. Last season during the fourth quarter alone, Stroud completed 62 percent of his throws for nine total touchdowns against three interceptions while posting a 101.2 passer rating.

Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes took the top spot after securing his third Super Bowl in five years with an overtime comeback win over the 49ers in Las Vegas. Still, second place seems strong, especially given Stroud’s experience compared to other MVP candidates.

Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Detroit’s Jared Goff rounded out the top five. Other AFC gunslingers who made the list behind Stroud were Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, Los Angeles’ Justin Herbert and reigning MVP Lamar Jackson.

The Texans return for the start of training camp practice on July 18.

6 Texans make CBS Sports Top 100 players of 2024

The Houston Texans were well-represented in Pete Prisco’s Top 100 list entering 2024.

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco knows how to get people’s attention while simultaneously getting under their skin. The longtime NFL analyst has never been shy about being different regarding his annual Top 100 players list released before the start of the regular season. 

In the past, the Houston Texans haven’t had many players to celebrate. Sure, Laremy Tunsil was always a lock to make the list, but everyone else was a mystery. Only Brandin Cooks made the cut during his tenure in Houston once amid a three-year losing streak.

That’s changed following an AFC South division title and playoff win behind the coaching of DeMeco Ryans and the heroics of rookie sensation C.J. Stroud. Entering 2024, Prisco has six Texans listed, with newcomer Danielle Hunter taking the top spot at No. 35.

He had 16 1/2 sacks for the Vikings last season, continuing to be a force off the edge. In Houston, he will team with Will Anderson Jr. to give the Texans a nice duo of pass rushers. – Prisco 

After not making the list in 2023, Hunter, a native of Katy, led the league in tackles for loss and finished top-five in sacks. He inked a new two-year deal worth $49 million to play in front of his hometown crowd after eight seasons in Minneapolis.

Stroud appeared three spots last at No. 38 and was the highest player among those selected in the 2023 draft. Last season, the former Ohio State star became the fifth rookie in league history to throw for 4,000-plus yards in their first year.

He was special as a rookie, leading the Texans to the playoffs. Now comes the hard part: Doing it again. I don’t think that will be a problem because he has the look of being a star for a long time. – Prisco

Tunsil, who appeared at No. 50 last season, dropped seven spots after allowing five sacks in 15 games, yet still graded out by Pro Football Focus as one of the league’s top pass protectors.

He is one of the best in the league in pass protection, which is great news for C.J. Stroud. His ability to hold up in one-on-one situations is key to their offense. – Prisco 

Nico Collins made his debut on the list, appearing at No. 77. No one benefitted more from Stroud’s arrival than Collins, who recently agreed to a new three-year extension after becoming the third receiver in franchise history to total 1,200 yards in a single season.

After having 70 catches in his first two seasons, he had his breakout season in 2023 with 80 catches and a 16.2 yard-per-catch average. He is truly a big-play threat who should continue to grow with quarterback C.J. Stroud – Prisco 

Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. appeared at No. 80 after totaling five interceptions in Year 2. Much like Collins with Stroud’s arrival, no one on defense benefitted more in Ryans’ man-based coverage than the former No. 3 overall pick.

After a disappointing 2022 rookie season, he flashed star potential last year for the Texans. He is a long corner who is capable of matching up in coverage with the game’s best receivers. – Prisco 

Finally, Will Anderson Jr. rounded out the list at No. 99. Hopeful to live up to the number.  the Texans hope last year’s No. 3 overall pick will be the heir apparent to three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt.

He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year after getting seven sacks. But he was much more than those sack numbers and his talent shows a player who can take a big jump to 12-15 sacks this season. – Prisco 

The only significant snub was recently acquired receiver Stefon Diggs. While the production took a dip following the firing of Ken Dorsey in Buffalo, Diggs has posted six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons dating back to his time in Minnesota.

The four-time Pro Bowler has also been the definition of consistent, racking up over 101 catches each season with the Bills. Since 2020, Diggs has led all active receivers in receptions with 445 catches.

The six top 100 players and the rest of the Texans’ roster return to NRG Stadium for the start of training camp on July 18.

C.J. Stroud predicted to be Texans’ MVP for 2024 season

C.J. Stroud might not win the league MVP, but he’s certainly the Houston Texans’ most valuable player.

The Houston Texans have multiple impact players — both returning and new — on the roster who will help contribute to the team’s success in 2024.

But which standout will be the most impactful as Houston looks to build off its AFC South title heading into Year 2 under DeMeco Ryans?

NFL.com’s Eric Edholm examined one MVP for each NFL team heading into the 2024 season. Countless names were considered, including newcomers Stefon Diggs and Danielle Hunter. Emerging talents like Tank Dell and Will Anderson Jr. also could have been in the conversation after breakout rookie campaigns.

However, everything starts and ends with reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud as he looks to elevate his game even further.

There are just going to be some quarterback layups, and when they’re there, I am taking them every time. I rated Stroud slightly ahead of Bryce Young prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, but even in my wildest fever dreams, I couldn’t have expected the bonanza rookie campaign C.J. put forth last season. What struck me most? His rare poise and precision — you almost never find those traits individually in a first-year quarterback, much less together in the same package.

New receiver Stefon Diggs is another viable candidate on offense, and Will Anderson Jr. also displayed the kind of talent in Year 1 that could make him a team MVP at some point. But not this year. Even if there’s a case to be made that the Texans might not meet the sky-high expectations for them this season, no way am I veering off Stroud here.

Stroud set the tone in Year 1, becoming the fifth rookie in league history to throw for over 4,000 yards. Not only did he become the youngest passer to win a playoff game, but Stroud joined Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks to lead the league in touchdown-to-interception ratio and passing yards per game.

With Diggs and Mixon joining an offense featuring already ample star power, Stroud should see his number nearly double. He joked earlier in the offseason that Houston has “five No. 1 targets,” though that might be a reality by early December.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium for the start of training camp on July 18.