Tag: Texans C.J. Stroud

Texans Wire OC candidates: Making the case for Syracuse OC Jeff Nixon

Jeff Nixon just led Syracuse to the top passing attack in college football and might be the favorite to replace Bobby Slowik with the Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are looking for a new man to lead the offense following the firing of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik Friday afternoon.

Fresh off back-to-back AFC South division titles, Houston remains a prime location for any play-caller to flourish. The Texans have the quarterback in C.J. Stroud. They also have weapons, with Pro Bowlers Nico Collins and Joe Mixon back for 2025.

The Texans are expected to make a run at several offensive pieces in free agency and the draft, thus bolstering the personnel heading into 2025. And until plans change in Indianapolis, Tennessee, or Jacksonville, Houston remains the favorite to win the division entering next fall.

So, who are the top candidates?

Texans Wire will analyze a candidate each day until the hiring process concludes. Today, we begin with the individual that most fans wish will depart and move to Houston.

First, let’s discuss the guy the Texans just interviewed: Syracuse’s Jeff Nixon.

Background

Current position: Syracuse offensive coordinator

Previous coaching experience: New York Giants running backs coach (2023), Carolina Panthers running backs coach/interim offensive coordinator (2020-22), Baylor offensive coordinator (20017-19), San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach (2016), Miami Dolphins running backs coach (2011-15), Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach (2007-10)

Interview: Monday, Jan. 27, 2025

Pros

Nixon’s offense made a splash in the ACC this past season under first-year head coach Fran Brown. While most expected the run game to be a focal point of the Orange’s success, it was the high-tempo passing performance that excelled the ACC club to a record-setting campaign.

As the primary play-caller, Nixon’s personnel was the nation’s No. 1 passing offense, averaging 370 yards per game. Former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord led the NCAA in passing yards (4,799) and passing attempts (592).

The senior also broke former Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson’s single-season ACC passing record at Clemson set in 2016 while leading SU to its first 10-win season since 2018.

Running back LeQuint Allen also led the NCAA in catches for running backs (64) and had over 1,500 scrimmage yards. Allen also averaged 4.5 yards per attempt and scored 16 rushing touchdowns in 12 games.

If the Texans want to be a more up-tempo offense in 2025, Nixon should remain in the running. According to The Houston Chronicle’s Sam Warren, SU primarily lived in short passing attacks.

Nearly half of McCord’s pass attempts were between 0-9 yards, while his release time of 2.4 seconds was the fifth-fastest among FBS passers. Stroud’s 2.97 seconds was the NFL’s ninth-fastest. The former No. 2 overall pick also loves to attack the middle of the field, as evident by his connections with Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz in 2023.

Houston ranked 24th in explosive plays last season behind Slowik’s offense. Nixon’s unit was one of the best. McCord ranked second nationally on passes of 20+ air yards, completing 53% of his throws for nine touchdowns against three turnovers.

Unlike Stroud, McCord’s system allowed him to thrive under pressure. According to Warren,  McCord’s 26.9% was the fifth-highest in the country. Stroud was pressured 39.4% on dropbacks.

The system will differ from Slowik’s design, but it’s meant to help move the chains promptly. Nixon emphasizes production and consistency as the root of the offensive approach. It works in all three stages of the field and eliminates one option as the go-to force in the passing game.

Cons

Nixon’s limited time as a play-caller in the pros did not go as planned. After Matt Rhule was fired in 2022, he took over as the interim offensive coordinator and struggled to build momentum.

Credit, Nixon was working with an aging Cam Newton who had lost the ability to throw and a lackluster run game that traded away Christian McCaffery, so the designs were one-dimensional. But after the season concluded, he never received an interview for an opening to call plays in the offseason.

All of Nixon’s success running an offense has come at the college level. Will it translate to the pros? It’s a concern since any more regression could stall the growth of Stroud as he enters Year 3.

Syracuse also featured a five-tool passing attack, with four players hauling at least 50 passes. Five totaled over 500 yards and three found the end zone eight-plus times.

Is that sustainable for the current offensive status? Collins is back as the top receiver. Mixon returns in the backfield. Everyone else is up for grabs, including free agents Robert Woods and Stefon Diggs on the market.

Final Verdict

Initially, fans seemed frustrated at the interview, but the more you dive into the Xs and Os, Nixon is a solid option. Areas of weakness for Stroud last season were positions for strength for McCord, who served as Stroud’s backup at Ohio State for two seasons.

NFL experience plus time a play-caller crosses off two immediate boxes that have concerned fans. A background in the running back likely adds to Nixon’s case since the run game was an arid weakness before Mixon’s arrival.

Then again, Stroud is the selling point, so having experience as a quarterbacks coach might be a prerequisite.

The Texans must comply with the Rooney Rule and interview two minority candidates. Could Nixon just fit a quota? Perhaps, but the more you dive into his personnel packages, the more you like him.

Houston fans might not be on board with the move based on name alone, but appearances can be deceiving. It’s not the slam dunk hire based on name, yet it could be why Stroud returns to All-Pro form.

But other names still exist. Let’s play it safe and say Nixon has a hair’s chance to stand on the sidelines at NRG Stadium come Week 1.

Chances of hiring: 15%

Instant analysis: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce lead Chiefs to victory over Texans

The Houston Texans season has come to an end at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night.

Blame the officiating all you want.

Even with the 30 yards removed, the outcome would have remained near-identical.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce on a diving pass for an 11-yard touchdown, securing the 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in the divisional round at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs became the fourth team in NFL history to follow back-to-back Lombardi Trophies by advancing to the conference title game, and the three previous lost. Kansas City will play host to the winner of Buffalo and Baltimore in the conference championship for a chance to head to the Super Bowl.

The Texans won in multiple facets, despite trailing the entire game. C.J. Stoud finished with more passing yards than the three-time Super Bowl champion.

Joe Mixon and the ground game averaged 5.1 yards per attempt compared to Kansas City’s 2.1.

While Kelce made history with his 117-yard outing, the Texans had more consistent receivers. Nico Collins finished with 81 yards while Dalton Schultz totaled 63 yards.

So, what went wrong? Missed opportunities and blown pass protection.

Stroud, who finished with 245 passing yards, was sacked eight times, including four times on third-down conversions. After connecting with Schultz and Collins for first-down gains, defensive end George Karlaftis beat two pass blockers to record his third sack of the evening.

Houston tried to tack on three points from a 35-yard field goal attempt by Ka’imi Fairbairn, but Leo Chenel timed his jump to block the kick and keep the difference at 11.

Much like in Week 16’s 27-19 loss at Arrowhead, Houston had its chance to tie the game. Joe Mixon capped off a 10-minute drive with a 13-yard run to bring the Texans within one, but Fairbairn’s attempt after traveled right.

Fairbairn also missed a 55-yard field goal as the wind sailed the pass wide right. Those three points would have tied the game at 6-6.

While Stroud faced ample pressure, Mahomes was sacked three times. It could have been more, but several missed holding calls and a roughing the passer play on Will Anderson Jr. during the first quarter negated multiple stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Later in the third quarter, Mahomes became an open-field runner and tried to pick up a first down before sliding for a gain of 6. But linebacker Henry To’oTo’o apparently led with his head as Mahomes was dropping, leading to a late hit call and an extra 15 yards to help set up the Kelce touchdown.

Mahomes improved 16-3 in the playoffs, tying Joe Montana for the second-most wins in NFL postseason history. The two-time regular-season MVP also moved to 7-0 in the divisional round.

Behind Mahomes’ heroics, Chiefs coach Andy Reid became the fourth NFL coach with 300 career wins, joining Don Shula, Bill Belichick and George Halas.

Meanwhile, Houston falls to 0-6 all-time in the divisional round and will return to NRG Stadium with intentions of moving to the conference championship title game in 2026.

The Texans now own the No. 25 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft come April. Houston must cut ties with several players and coaches this offseason, whether it comes from free agency or straight-up release.

For the second consecutive year, the Texans will finish with double-digit wins in the regular season. For the second consecutive year, their season ends just short of a conference title game.

All 32 NFL quarterbacks (including C.J. Stroud) ranked by Total QBR

How did C.J. Stroud perform during the team’s 31-2 loss against the Baltimore Ravens? The QBR ranking is not kind.

Houston Texans second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud posted a Total QBR rating of 13.4 in the team’s 31-2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17, bringing his season-long Total QBR average to 49.0.

Nix’s season-long rating has dipped since last week (51.1) and his overall rank (No. 21) among current starters is down two spots since last week (No. 19).

Nix’s traditional passer rating this season is 86.0, which ranks 24th.

Unlike a traditional passer rating, the Total QBR “incorporates all of a quarterback’s contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties,” according to ESPN.

The metric takes into account scenarios that a traditional passer rating overlooks and considers “a team’s level of success or failure on every play to provide the proper context and then allocates credit to the quarterback and his teammate to produce a clearer measure of quarterback efficiency.”

With that context in mind, here’s a look at how Stroud stacks up against the NFL’s other starting quarterbacks entering the Week 18 regular-season finale.

NFL QBs ranked by Total QBR after Week 17

  1. Lamar Jackson: 78.0
  2. Joe Burrow: 76.7
  3. Josh Allen: 76.7
  4. Jayden Daniels: 72.4
  5. Jordan Love: 69.8
  6. Patrick Mahomes: 68.5
  7. Brock Purdy: 67.8
  8. Jared Goff: 67.1
  9. Kyler Murray: 66.9
  10. Jalen Hurts: 66.1
  11. Matthew Stafford: 64.7
  12. Sam Darnold: 63.4
  13. Justin Herbert: 61.8
  14. Baker Mayfield: 59.4
  15. Drake Maye: 59.0
  16. Bo Nix: 54.1
  17. Russell Wilson: 53.0
  18. Geno Smith: 52.7
  19. Aidan O’Connell: 50.6
  20. Drew Lock: 50.3
  21. C.J. Stroud: 49.0
  22. Aaron Rodgers: 48.3
  23. Bryce Young: 48.0
  24. Anthony Richardson: 46.5
  25. Caleb Williams: 45.5
  26. Michael Penix: 44.1
  27. Cooper Rush: 40.4
  28. Mac Jones: 39.3
  29. Spencer Rattler: 36.9
  30. Tyler Huntley: 36.7
  31. Will Levis: 30.2
  32. Dorian Thompson-Robinson: 18.9

Stroud will look to improve his Total QBR rating when the Texans travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Kickoff from Nissan Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

Analysis: Texans inch closer to division title with win over Dolphins

The Houston Texans are a victory away from back-to-back 10-win seasons following Sunday’s outing against the Miami Dolphins.

The Houston Texans did their job. Will the Denver Broncos help them out?

Nico Collins caught two touchdown passes from C.J. Stroud while the Texans’ defense forced four turnovers, including two fourth-quarter interceptions by Derek Stingley, to secure a 20-12 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at NRG Stadium.

“Stingley is playing just unbelievable football right now,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said.

Should the Broncos beat the Colts out west, Houston would secure its second division title under Ryans in as many years.

Stingley. who could be the dark horse to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year honors, iced the game with 1:23 remaining with a pick against Tua Tagovailoa on a pass intended for Tyreek Hill.

Earlier in the game. Houston capitalized on another Tagovailoa turnover, this time caused by a stip-sack from Will Anderson Jr. Tim Settle recovered the ball and returned it to the Miami 26. Four plays later, Stroud connected with Collins for a 6-yard score.

The duo would find the end zone again with 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter after Dare Ogunbowale picked up 35 yards on a fake punt.

Stroud threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He also finished with a 106.6 passer rating, a season-best since Week 6’s win over the New England Patriots.

Houston’s ground game was limited behind Joe Mixon being shaken up by a hard hit during the second quarter. He finished with 23 rushing yards, but led the offense with five receptions for 33 yards.

Tagovailoa tried to lead a comeback down by 14 thanks to an 11-play, 73-yard drive capped off with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith on fourth down. Miami could have been within a touchdown, but Jason Sanders’ kick went wide left, leading to an 8-point margin.

Two late interceptions sealed the deal for Tagovailoa, who was credited with a season-high four turnovers. Miami (6-8) played without starting tackles Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm. Tagovailoa threw for 196 yards, 143 of which came in the second half.

A scare occurred midway through the third quarter as Dolphins Grant DuBose was carted off after colliding with rookie defensive back Calen Bullock. Tagovailoa tried to lead DuBose out, but the receiver’s head violently hit the turf.

“There’s been some positive feedback related to some head and neck imaging,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “He will stay here overnight, and we’ll find out more by (Monday).”

Bullock was given a flag for unnecessary roughness for hitting a defenseless receiver on the play.

DuBose remained on the field for more than 10 minutes. Emergency medical assistance from trained personnel was required, which resulted in them having to cut off his jersey and a neck brace was put on him while he was taken to an ambulance.

The team said he was in stable condition and being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Danielle Hunter inched closer to making league history with his 1.5-sack performance. He needs a half-sack from now until the end of the regular season to join the 100-career club before the end of the regular season.

Injuries

Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and didn’t return.

Texans tight end Cade Stover was ruled out before kickoff after having an emergency appendectomy Saturday night.

Texans defensive Foley Fatukasi injured an ankle in the second quarter and did not return.

Stat of the Game

Once the Texans moved Stingley over to covering All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill, the game was close to over. The third-year defensive back limited Hill to one catch for 15 yards.

For the afternoon, Hill finished with two receptions for 36 yards.

“It’s a good opportunity going against somebody that’s the face of the NFL,” Stingley said. “So anytime you get to go out there on the field, it’s just a good time, just time to have fun.”

Up Next

The Texans travel to Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City might be short-handed without star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is considered week-to-week after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday’s win against the Cleveland Browns.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Watch: Texans QB C.J. Stroud throws game-winning TD pass vs. Jaguars

C.J. Stroud’s late heroics secure the Houston Texans’ third victory of the young season.

C.J. Stroud is inevitable.

The second-year Houston Texans quarterback never lost composure despite being under duress against a Jacksonville Jaguars pass rush. He remained calm in the pocket and delivered quick, clean strikes.

And because of it, the Texans are sitting 3-1 entering Week 4.

Stroud found running back Dare Ogunbowale for a 1-yard touchdown with 18 seconds remaining to give the Texans the eventual 24-20 win over the AFC South foe. It marked the only points of the second half for the Texans, who welcome the Buffalo Bills next Sunday afternoon.

After getting a crucial third-down stop, the Texans drove 69 yards in nine plays to set up inside the red zone. Stroud found Nico Collins for his 12th catch and a pickup of 26.  He connected with Dalton Schultz inside the red zone for a first-down pickup for six yards.

And Stroud was aggressive with his legs. He ran for first down to open the drive. Stroud also evaded the pressure to his Ogunbowale twice for short-yard gains.

Stroud finished the afternoon 27-of-40 for 345 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 17 yards and a pair of first downs.

Houston is currently 2-0 at NRG Stadium to enter the 2024 season.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has top-selling jersey in the NFL

Move over Patrick Mahomes as Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud is now the face of NFL jersey sales.

C.J. Stroud is currently the top athlete in the city of Houston following a breakout rookie season with the Houston Texans. Go through any tailgate outside of NRG Stadium and No. 7 will be well represented. 

Apparently, Stroud’s impact has reached national status entering Week 3 of the 2024 season. 

The Texans quarterback tops the list of jersey sales, according to the NFL Players Association. On Wedensday, the NFLPA released the top 50 jersey-sellers from March through May.

Stroud, who last season won Offensive Rookie of the Year after guiding the Texans to their first division title in four seasons, surpassed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was second. The two-time MVP has carried the title of top seller since his breakout campaign in 2018. 

Much like on the gridiron, Mahomes has competition to remain the top option. 

Now, it must be noted that Stroud’s jersey sales might have benefitted from Houston changing its jerseys in the offseason for the first time in franchise history. Some records could be from the old kits worn in 2023. 

Others likely are from a new era and look surrounding the Texans in 2024. 

Detriot Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow rounded out the top five. Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. appeared on the list at No. 24 following his dominant first year. 

https://twitter.com/TexansCommenter/status/1836386124932997426

While the Texans might be the biggest risers in the AFC, they only have two representatives in the top 50. Detriot, a fan favorite from last season, saw the most growth with six, including running back Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 8), quarterback Jared Goff (No. 19) and tight end Sam LaPorta (No. 44). 

Maybe next season, the Texans will have the same cast of talent with Nico Collins, Danielle Hunter, Tank Dell, Derek Stingley Jr. and Azeez Al-Shaair joining the mix. 

Texans OC Bobby Slowik gives QB C.J. Stroud small request heading into regular season

C.J. Stroud has been dominant with the Houston Texans, but offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has a piece of advice

C.J. Stroud has been the epitome of a perfect teammate, student and quarterback since the Houston Texans drafted him No. 2 overall pick in April of 2023. 

Sometimes, perfect doesn’t always mean ideal, which is why offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has a small request for the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

During a recent appearance on the Green Light podcast with former NFL defensive lineman Chris Long, Slowik praised Stroud’s willingness to go above and beyond past the film room. Since his time at Ohio State, Stroud — as Slowik puts it — has the drive to be “the best at everything.” 

That includes making sure he doesn’t make the same mistake twice in a game or practice. Slowik mentioned that Stroud always seems to be studying the tape, going over every minor detail to avoid a major mishap on Sundays. 

“He’ll be up watching film, and this isn’t even game-plan time,” Slowik said. “We’re talking right now in training camp. He’s sending texts to receivers, to coaches, to everybody. From film of clips of how he wants to make some adjustments, things he’s thinking through the course of plays.” 

While studying has its perks, so does rest, which is why Slowik offered a word of advice to the still budding star. 

“It’s like 11:30 p.m., man,” Slowik joked. “Go to sleep. Go to sleep C.J., come on man.”

Stroud certainly could use a few extra hours of sleep, but he proved he could ball out with little rest in 2023. Last season in 15 games, he threw for over 4,000 yards and led the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio, along with passing yards per game. 

He also became the youngest passer in NFL history to win a playoff game after securing a 45-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round. Stroud also was named to the Pro Bowl as an alternate after all of his success. 

While the Texans have long-term questions about the franchise, Stroud isn’t one of them. He seems poised to build off a dominant rookie season while guiding Houston to its first potential Super Bowl title starting this fall. 

And winning a Lombardi Trophy might be the only way Stroud finally gets a great night’s sleep.