Heat and humidity made for long summer days during the Houston Texans’ training camp. The layout made for an introduction to to the brutal regiment orchestrated by former Texans player and first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Yet, one position group wanted to do more, knowing they would have to prove themselves to new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who would have to design the plays for them. Day after day, the wide receivers could be found getting in extra work with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud or getting tips from defensive backs such as Derek Stingley, Steven Nelson, and Jalen Pitre.
Feeding his guys
With the uncertainty from the media and the fans about how they would perform, the receiving group knew what type of individuals they had in their position room and who they had throwing them the ball. So, they continued to work harder on the small details, such as quickly getting in and out of breaks so that rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud didn’t have to waste a lot of time in the pocket. They talked to one another, offering tips that could help them become more efficient and effective on the field.
All the hard work and effort from the summer has paid off for the wide receivers midway through the 2023 NFL season, as the Texans are 6-4 heading into a Week 12 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars with first place in the AFC South on the line.
“I like to feed my guys that put in work every week, and I see it, physically,” said Stroud during his weekly press conference. “I get to see them work their tail off from the morning all the way until we leave here, and on top of that, dudes are watching film at home. So, I take pride in getting guys paid and making them feel their worth on the field.”
During the 2023 NFL Combine Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud discussed how he has the ability to spread the ball around to different receivers throughout the game. I asked him and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik about it on Wednesday. #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/fi4C4D3ScO
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) November 24, 2023
Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods, and Noah Brown have become very reliable for Stroud, whose name is being mentioned in NFL MVP talks and seems to be the perennial favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year with the statistics he has posted in his first ten games played. He currently leads the NFL in passing yards per game (296.2).
Anybody is a target
One of his most significant attributes that makes him a favorite amongst the receivers is his ability to spread the ball throughout the game, making every read and progression available to receive a pass on any given play.
“Anybody can be WR1[wide receiver one] on any given week,” said rookie wide receiver Dell. “Even in the same game, he can feed everybody in the same game. That is ‘Seven’ [Stroud]; he spreads the ball around and makes sure everybody eats good, and all you have to do is get open, and he will find you.”
Slowik also recognizes that Stroud has an exceptional ability to involve all the receivers throughout any offensive series and makes sure he calls plays that will give him multiple options to take advantage of the unique receiver corps that has gelled throughout the season.
“They’re all different, and they’re all really good at different things,” said Slowik. “They have different strengths, and C.J.’s rapport with them to understand what those strengths are plays a huge part of it.”
“I think it’s evident the last three weeks how well he’s gone through progressions, how effectively he’s delivered the ball on time and sometimes across the field, and I don’t think that’s very common for a rookie quarterback, and I think that has a lot to do with the trust he has. First, in the protection, but then secondly, in the guys that he’s throwing to. He believes that all of them have strengths, are really good, and are really good at different things, and he wants to get the ball in all of their hands for different reasons.”
Numbers don't lie
Last season, Houston struggled in the passing game, finishing the season with 353 receptions for 3,653 yards and 20 touchdowns, with former Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks amassing 699 yards and three touchdowns as the top receiver for quarterback Davis Mills.
Through Week 11, the Texan’s wide receivers are on pace to exceed those numbers by a wide margin, as they have 225 receptions for 2,970 yards and 18 touchdowns. Nico Collins, who finished an injury-riddled 2022 season with 481 yards and 37 receptions, is having a career year. With nine games played, he leads the 43 receptions and 696 yards.
Tank Dell is making a case for the NFL All-Rookie Team with 659 yards receiving on 42 catches. His six receiving touchdowns have him tied for eighth in the league and set the franchise record for touchdowns by a rookie, which was previously held by former tight end Owen Daniels with five. Dell also holds the franchise record for most receiving yards by a Texans player through their first nine games, surpassing WR Andre Johnson (589).
Explosive plays were also challenging to accomplish in 2022, as Houston had a measly 37 plays over 25 yards. Only two players had 100 yards receiving last season compared to eight (Dell-3, Brown-2, Collins-2, TE Dalton Shultz-1) thus far.
“You can point the finger at everybody, but me I point the thumb,” said Texans QB C.J. Stroud about his play in the loss on Sunday. “We have to take more shots and be more explosive and do some things down the field.” #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/DsMpTinDRc
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 30, 2023
After a tough loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 8, where the Texans only completed one pass play for over 25 yards, Stroud came to the postgame press conference and took the blame for the loss and not getting the receivers the ball and in position to make the deep catches.
“You can point the finger at everybody, but me, I point the thumb,” Stroud said. “We have to take more shots and be more explosive and do some things down the field.”
In the following two games, Stroud completed over 12 plays over 25 yards as the Texans defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals. Houston has almost exceeded last year’s total with 31 explosive plays this season.
Texans receivers coach Ben McDaniels credits the group’s success to the unselfish characteristics that each one of them possesses, and it started back in OTAs and training camp when
“It is a great room and a great group of guys,” McDaniels told Texans Wire. “When you are unselfish by nature and by character, it allows you to enjoy everyone else’s success, and that energy is great for everybody. The people that they are, they came into the room that way. They have a professional approach, and they celebrate each other’s accomplishments.”
Houston controls their playoff destiny over the next seven games and could be in a prime position to make a strong playoff run. If Stroud and his receiving corp continue on their current pace, they could surprise some teams in the AFC.
