NFL
By: Greg Rector
Many folks questioned the Houston Texans leading into this 2023 NFL season. DeMeco Ryans had a helluva job to do to turn around the franchise he once played for and has done a tremendous job so far. The Texans have an opportunity on Sunday to equal their win total from last season as they play the Atlanta Falcons.
Houston Texans Draft
When the Houston Texans selected CJ Stroud second overall Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud and then traded with the Arizona Cardinals and drafted Will Anderson from Alabama many were shocked especially with the trade. Most folks also questioned whether CJ Stroud was going to be the right quarterback for DeMeco Ryans.
All CJ Stroud has done as the quarterback is go 2-2 and he’s yet to throw an interception. His play has been superb and to do this with a makeshift offensive line has been amazing to watch. Unlike his time with Ohio State, he no longer has the best wide receivers in the country to throw the ball to. Yet Nico Collins John Metchie and Dalton Schultz are catching his passes quite nicely.
I know I had the Carolina Panthers taking Bryce Young and the Texans taking Stroud was no surprise to me because after the last college season ended I had Stroud as my number one quarterback going into the draft. This was despite all of the concerns many draft folks had and even before his outstanding game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFB playoff.
While I was wrong about Anthony Richardson and his play I simply knew CJ Stroud was going to be a successful NFL quarterback. The real surprise for me has been his level-headed play although I’m sure he will have those usual rookie mistakes he certainly had any in his first four NFL games.
Let’s not forget the trade that brought the Houston Texans Will Anderson who has also been very good and is a true leader of the Texans defense.
Head Coach DeMeco Ryans
What a great choice DeMeco Ryans has been. Long a great player for the Houston Texans defense he has been a tremendous leader for the Houston Texans. He’s not only been leading the Houston Texans but his decisions on his assistant coaches have paid off in a big way early in this 2023 NFL season.
When he brought with him from the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik he brought in a guy who was in 2017 a defensive quality control coach beside Ryans in 2017. That means you have someone who understands what a defense looks like and knows how to call the right plays for CJ Stroud. His work has been tremendous so far.
His decision to hire away from the Indianapolis Colts offensive line coach Chris Strausser has been brilliant as well. Despite not having worked with Strausser at any level of football Ryands understood how good Strausser was with the Colts and to see the Texans beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and handle dealing with TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith last Sunday was magnificent.
Houston Texans Future Is Bright
I see this Houston Texans roster playing hard tough football under DeMeco Ryans and I don’t see them changing away from that style of play. Ryans was always a hard-charging style of play and he’s got his young Houston Texans team believing in everything he’s doing.
