How growth of C.J. Stroud, collaboration with Bobby Slowik and ‘ammunition’ of talent boosts high-octane Texans’ offense

INDIANAPOLIS – The collaboration between C.J. Stroud and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has advanced through another year of conversations and strategy sessions, building game plans together to attack opponents’ weaknesses.

The Texans’ Pro Bowl quarterback, named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last season, as he consistently displayed arm talent, accuracy, intelligence and leadership skills, has continued to grow in all facets of his game.

And the Texans, through general manager Nick Caserio and the scouting department, have given the defending AFC South champions’ offense even more weapons for Stroud to utilize. The Texans acquired Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs during an offseason trade from the Buffalo Bills and traded for Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and signed him to a three-year, $27 million extension, pairing them with returning wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell and tight end Dalton Schultz, back on a three-year, $36 million contract.

The Texans are loaded on offense after ranking 13th in scoring offense last season and Stroud leading the NFL in passing yards per contest and touchdown-to-interception ratio.

There are no real limits on the Texans’ offense. There’s a lot of room of creativity and imagination. And the finished product of an offseason spent dialing up plays to suit the personnel will be on display Sunday during a road season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

The strong relationship and communication between Stroud and Slowik is at the heart of the opportunity to do something special.

“I feel like I’ve grown just like trusting Bobby and everything that he stands for when it comes to this philosophy and how he calls it,” Stroud said. “So, I’ve been able to go and just watch games with him and pick his brain and see how he watches film and why he calls certain plays when he calls them and whatnot. Then on top of that I’ve been able to, I wouldn’t say I ever did have a filter because that’s just not my personality, but I definitely just have more of an understanding of things that I like to get done, that I don’t like to do, or what I like to do.

“It’s just more comfortability is was what I would say. Nothing bad, nothing was ever negative, don’t get me wrong. We’ve always had a good open communication, but I think both of us are just a lot more comfortable being around each other from day in and day out, of scheme to practice, to conversation away from ball. Like just everything we’re just more comfortable with each other players.”

A year removed from an electric first season punctuated by leading the Texans to a division title and joining Tom Brady and Joe Montana in an exclusive fraternity of quarterbacks to reach that milestone of touchdown-to-interception ration with 23 touchdown passes and five interceptions and passing yards per contest in the same season, Stroud is expected to continue improving his dynamic game in his second NFL season.

And Slowik, an NFL head coaching candidate who had multiple interviews during the offseason, including the Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers, has a lot of flexibility as a play-caller with the roster the Texans have built.

“We’ve got enough ammunition,” Slowik said. “No matter what, we feel like we can make it all work. We can attack a defense any way we want.”

For Stroud, his supporting cast gives him a definitive edge over most quarterbacks. As does his preparation and hunger to keep getting better. It’s about growing in every way. As a leader, Stroud regularly hosts catered dinners for teammates. He organized throwing sessions in Los Angeles, Miami and Houston. He’s always thinking about the game and talking about the game.

Teammates see a difference in Stroud, an even better Stroud.

“Absolutely,” veteran guard Shaq Mason said. “He came in a with a mindset to just get better every day, that one percent. He spread that around the team.”

And that involves more than just ability to play the game of football.

It’s about fit and chemistry. This is a close locker room. The players have each others’ back and coach DeMeco Ryans.

“Strategically, I think Nick did a great job of building us from top to bottom, really bottom to top,” Stroud said. “Looking both ways, he’s done a good job of filling in the spots we felt like we needed and then bringing in guys who we thought that we felt fit our style to play. I think DeMeco and Nick and really just our front office has done a great job of bringing guys together.

“Not only would fit the X’s and O’s, would fit each other personality wise. I think you all are in the locker room with us at times you see how close we are. We’re always playing, we’re always smiling, always having fun and we’re all really competitive. Everybody wants to eat, which I think is a great thing. So, I think it starts with our front office and what they’ve done and we’re just excited to have a close-knit team.”

For Slowik and Stroud, distributing the football in a way to maximize yards, field position, points and winning games is their primary task.

Together, they want to maximize the opportunity.

And Stroud is more than capable of processing what the defensive schemes are and delivering the football into tight areas for high-degree of difficulty throws or simply taking what’s there and hitting most open man on the field.

Being in lockstep with Slowik, the son of former NFL defensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and another part of the Mike Shanahan-Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, has continued to grow for Stroud and their rapport and shared vision.

“I’d say it’s come a long way,” Slowik said. “Most of that was done last year, as far as the work put in. It’s like every relationship. It takes time. It takes work. It takes time to get on the same page, to build that to the point where you just irrevocably trust each other in all regards. And we’ve always kind of seen the game, as far as football, the same way.

“But getting to the point where we understood we were see the game in the same way. There was a lot of work that we put into that last year. And then by the time we got to the second half of the season, we both felt pretty comfortable that we were there and now we just continue growing in that regard.”

Injecting Diggs, a fierce competitor who’s mastered every aspect of the route tree and can still create separation, and Mixon, a prototypical running back, makes the Texans even stronger.

““I’m very excited,” Stroud said. “I think we got to see glimpses at training camp but now it’s full-go. Now, it’s time to roll and those guys are two of the most competitive guys Really two of the most joyful guys who just love playing ball, love showing up to work every day and being around the guys. Knowing their teammates, helping guys out.

“I know Stef got named a captain, which is huge because he earned it. He’s one of the biggest leaders on the offense and I think Joe would be a captain pretty soon just because his personality and how he brings guys along, makes guys around him better, challenges his guys. I think both of those guys have done a great job of buying in the system and growing in the system and they’re going to do great things.”

Everything the Texans have done in the past, going 11-8 last season, winning a playoff game over the Cleveland Browns, that’s behind them.

And they’ve emerged as a trending Super Bowl contender.

As the season starts anew, this iteration of the Texans has high expectations surrounding them. Their own expectations are just as high. They expect a lot from themselves and this season.

“I want to just start fast,” Stroud said. “It doesn’t have to do with like a certain game just like in general, like the season. Last year, we started off really slow and just kind of had to like build our way back and it’s not an easy thing to do. This year, we want to start fast. We want to gain confidence early, I think we put in the work for training camp and now it’s up to us to go out there and do it this Sunday and put our best foot forward.”

What’s it like for Slowik running an offense like the Texans with so many possibilities on his play sheet?

It’s kind of an obvious answer. It’s something to be enjoyed, and a privilege to handle.

“A lot of fun,” Slowik said. “I don’t have much more to give you than it’s a lot of fun. There’s a lot of different things you can do. It’s almost, you’ve got to make sure you keep it under control. We’re keeping it where we go out and we execute.”

Stroud became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game. He set a record for most pass attempts without an interception to start an NFL career. Can he elevate his game and his team for a deep playoff run or a Super Bowl? Time will tell that story, but it’s undeniable that Stroud keeps getting better and better.

Although the expectations and ambitions of the Texans have expanded exponentially, that doesn’t necessarily change the approach of Stroud. Mature, composed and ultra-confident in his abilities, which include outstanding arm strength, accuracy, intellect and clutch performance, the 22-year-old is well aware that teams will be coming after the Texans and they definitely won’t sneak up on anyone this season.

“It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be harder,” Stroud said. “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. I definitely do think that all the expectations, we just work, everything will take care of itself. The story is already written.”

As Collins sees the situation, it’s all about improvement and continuing to build the momentum and confidence gained last season.

Stroud sets the tone for that mood.

“I feel like it’s new juice, new energy, new players,” Collins said. “I feel like the tempo is fine. Practice is going to be competitive, fun. I feel like that’s the best. Iron sharpens iron. I feel like it’s the only way we’re going to improve and make each other better.

“With the weapons that we have, man it is a hell of a thing,” Mixon said. “I think as long as we execute, do all the right things well, and build that chemistry I think that it’s going to go a long way. In the offense, the sky’s the limit. Everybody is going to eat.”

As Stroud sets his goals for the upcoming season, he wants to be even more aggressive about going after the defense and pushing the action when there are opportunities to capitalize on.

“I really can say just like owning the offense more, the operation, putting more on my plate with run checks, protection checks, things like that,” Stroud said. “I want to definitely attack down the field more this year and press guys back and also take what the defense gives me. If it’s boring, if it’s a boring play, just stay with the boring stuff and just be efficient with that. So, those are all things I can get better at and I hope to do that.”

The maturity of Stroud and his work ethic are major pluses for the entire organization. They have their quarterback of the present and future in place for years to come.

“He’s always had a good attitude,” Caserio said. “He’s always got a good work ethic and highly confident in himself. I think in the offseason he may experiment with some different techniques or some different things that maybe can help you as a player. So, from the day he’s walked in the building, he’s had a good approach. He’s a talented player. He’s a good player.”.

As Stroud goes, so goes the outlook of the football team.

While he’s being counted on heavily to duplicate or improve upon last year, the Texans couldn’t have much more confidence in his ability to compartmentalize all of the responsibilities and mantle of leadership.

“Now in his second year, there is a comfort level, so you can be a little bit more vocal to the entire team and not just speaking to the offense,” Ryans said. “But the team has his ear, and he can lean on that a little bit more. C.J. doesn’t to have change anything, just has to be himself.

“That’s what has made C.J. a special player, him being himself. He has a great family, was raised the right way, does all things the right way. Just continues to be himself and guys will follow him because of how he works, how he shows up with a great attitude. That’s why guys follow him.”

Stroud won the Pro Football Writers of America annual Media Good Guy award. He had already been recognized by the Houston chapter for his cooperation and candor with the media who cover him on a daily basis. Stroud has displayed the same personality and work habits ever since he arrived in Houston.

“I would say the C.J. you’re getting is the C.J. that’s always been here,” Stroud said. “I don’t plan on changing no time soon. Of course, had some success, but I always remember how quick they love you is how quick they hate you. So, I’m head down, working, tunnel vision on just my goals and these team goals we have.

“Walking around the street, I get a little more recognition and people noticing me, but I just try to show love. Let people know I’m a normal person that just plays football on TV sometimes. I think I’m pretty normal, but I’m blessed to be this man for sure.”

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