John McClain, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, is in his 48th year of covering the NFL in Houston, including 45 seasons at the Houston Chronicle.
Although the Texans and Colts are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball going into their regular-season opener at Indianapolis, attention will be focused on second-year quarterbacks C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson – the second and fourth overall picks in the 2023 draft.
Richardson has a 1-0 advantage over Stroud, who would like to even their record with a victory on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
"He's a good friend of mine and somebody I root (for) when we're not playing him," Stroud said this week. "(He's) somebody I've gotten to know over the years and have a friendship with him that I think will last a long time."
Stroud admires and respects Richardson, who has only 17 starts in college and as a rookie last season. Stroud knows Richardson has the size (6-4, 244), speed (4.4s), athleticism and arm strength to become a dangerous NFL weapon.
"I think of him as an all-around quarterback, somebody who can make all the throws (and) can also run the ball dynamically, somebody who's bought into that offense," Stroud said. "Watching him in preseason, he looked like he was clicking on all cylinders. Like he's processing the game a lot better and making his read (and) taking what the defense is giving him."
Richardson wants to be healthy and show significant improvement in his second season. Stroud, who was 9-6 as a starter in regular season, including 9-4 after the 0-2 start, has something in particular he wants to achieve this season.
"I would say I want to start fast," he said. "It doesn't have to do with a certain game, just in general, like the season. Last year, we started slow and had to build our way back. (That's) not an easy thing to do.
"This year, we want to start fast (and) gain confidence early. I think we put in the work in training camp, and now it's up to us to do it Sunday and put our best foot forward."
After the Colts, the Texans play the Bears at home, Vikings on the road and the Jaguars at home. None made the playoffs last season. They play their first playoff team on Oct. 6 when they entertain the Bills.
Bolstered by an offense that includes wide receivers Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs, tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Joe Mixon, Stroud is prepared to take on all-comers. Having the experience of his rookie season – winning a division title and a playoff game – gives Stroud more confidence because he knows what to expect.
"Yeah, you kind of know what to expect, (but) then you also don't know what to expect because it's Week One," he said. "I'm very excited because it's a great challenge, a divisional game, and we know what happened there last year (but) that's over.
"We have to move on because we know they're going to be highly motivated. We've got to be in our game and on (the) details of our job and make sure we're able to execute at a high level in that type of environment. It's going to be a great matchup to watch."
Stroud takes great pride in being voted as a captain by his teammates. He earned that distinction as a rookie, too. It shows what his teammates think about him as a player and as a leader.
"It's probably the biggest honor for me, bigger than any accolade, any reward because it's not something that's just given, especially me being a young guy (22)," he said. "Even last year I was kind of surprised. I wanted to be a captain later on. For them to notice it and want me to be in that role was honor and a blessing.
"I don't take it lightly, and it's something I'm really like proud of, not only for myself but the other guys who were named captains, as well. I'm thanking God that I have the opportunity to be in Houston with this great organization, this great team (and) to be able to have brothers I can lean on day in and day out."
NFL players tend to have their biggest growth as players between their first and second seasons. They learn what it takes to be a professional. Stroud had an outstanding rookie season with 23 touchdown passes, three touchdowns rushing, five interceptions, a 63.9 completion percentage, an 8.2-yard average per attempt and a 100.8 rating. He was voted NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Stroud is confident in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's system because of his one year of experience. He's comfortable with his coaches and teammates.
"I feel like I've grown, like trusting Bobby and everything he stands for when it comes to this philosophy and how he calls it," Stroud said. "I've been able to watch games with him, pick his brain and see how he watches film and why he calls certain plays.
"I definitely have more of an understanding of things that I like to get done (things), I don't like to do or what I like to do. It's more comfortability. Nothing was ever negative. We've always had a good, open communication, but I think both of us are just a lot more comfortable being around each other day in and day out."
As far as Slowik is concerned, the feeling is mutual.
"I'd say it's come a long way," Slowik said about coaching Stroud. "Most of that was done last year, as far as the work put in. It's like every relationship. 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."
Like Stroud, Slowik has grown into his role. He's a second-year coordinator and play-caller with more confidence in himself and his players, starting with Stroud.
"We've always seen the game the same way," Slowik said. "There was a lot of work we put into that last year. By the time we got to the second half of the season, we both felt pretty comfortable that we were there, and now we're (continuing) growing in that regard.
"He really has bought into staying on rhythm, getting the ball out on time and getting it to our playmakers' hands as often as possible. And that's not easy to do. You have to be very deliberate in how you approach every day to put that into action, and it definitely has grown."
An indication of how much Slowik, Stroud and the offense have grown together will be on display Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Texans will be trying to win their third consecutive game against their division rival.
