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.
Locally and especially nationally, the media are mentioning the Texans as bona-fide Super Bowl contenders. Turn on or tune in to a national television or radio network, and it won't take long to hear predictions for quarterback C.J. Stroud's sophomore season. Read a sports section or a sports website, and the Texans will be a topic of conversation. Just about every national media outlet and some statewide are scheduled to make an appearance at training camp.
Executive Vice President/General Manager Nick Caserio and Head Coach DeMeco Ryans are trying hard to play down the hype, but there's no avoiding it. Not after what the Texans achieved in Ryans' first season – a 10-7 record, an AFC South title, a wild card victory over Cleveland and a divisional round defeat at Baltimore. No matter how hard Caserio and Ryans try, that hype train is leaving the station.
The Texans are preparing to play Chicago in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, where receiver Andre Johnson will be the first member of the franchise to be enshrined. Other than the first training camp in team history, there's unprecedented excitement at NRG Stadium.
During Training Camp presented by Xfinity, including a joint practice with the Rams, and four preseason games, the Texans have questions that must be answered before they begin regular season at Indianapolis on Sept. 9. Here are 10 of those questions:
WILL THE TEXANS LEARN FROM WHAT HAPPENED TO THE JAGUARS?
DeMeco Ryans is well-aware of what happened last year to the Jaguars, who were coming off an AFC South championship and a wild card victory over the Chargers. They were the consensus pick to repeat as division champions. They looked the part 11 games into the season when they were 8-3. Then they suffered a monumental collapse – a four-game losing streak and one victory in their last five games. They finished 9-8 and tied with the Colts for second place, one game behind the Texans. Jacksonville couldn't overcome its first-place schedule. The Jaguars were 1-4 against division champions and 2-5 against teams with winning records. The Texans play a more difficult schedule. They play five division champions and 11 teams that finished 2023 with winning records. Rather than the NFC South, the worst division in the NFL, the Texans play the NFC North, one the best. And they know that, unlike last year, no team will take them lightly.
CAN STROUD AVOID A SOPHOMORE JINX?
C.J. Stroud had one of the best rookie seasons of any quarterback in NFL history. What does he do for an encore? Nick Caserio provided him with more weapons like receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon. Caserio added quality depth in the offensive line and at tight end. Defensive coordinators spent a substantial part of the offseason watching every play Stroud made over and over. They studied Bobby Slowik's offense. They've had ample time to formulate a better game plan that gives their players a better opportunity to execute those game plans. But the Texans have an outstanding coaching staff, and nobody has to remind Slowik what's ahead. As opponents adapt to the Texans, the Texans will adapt to the opponents. Barring injury, Stroud should be even better than last season. His year of experience, terrific coaching and a legion of talent around him should provide him with an opportunity to become even more elite at his position.
CAN STROUD KEEP HIS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS HAPPY?
Bobby Slowik uses multiple formations, but the most effective should be with Stroud lining up with wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell and tight end Dalton Schultz as well as running back Joe Mixon. That's a lot of talent. All want the ball. Stroud showed as a rookie that, no matter how many injuries there were at skill positions, he could still get the ball to his best weapons. Slowik and Stroud know the No. 1 way to keep everybody happy is to win. Statistics won't be the top priority.
CAN THE OFFENSIVE LINE STAY HEALTHY?
Last year, the offensive line was decimated by injuries under first-year coach Chris Strasser, who did a magical job moving pieces around to a point where the offense still operated efficiently. Strausser started 11 different linemen. The injuries started the first week of training camp and didn't let up. Barring injury, four positions are set: Left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who's recovering from knee surgery, and right tackle Tytus Howard are outside. Shaq Mason, the only player on the team to start 17 games last season, is entrenched at right guard. Center Juice Scruggs, who spent much of his rookie season injured and then was forced to play guard, is playing the position he was drafted to play. That leaves an availability at left guard, where Kenyon Green is practicing with the first team.
WILL KENYON GREEN SECURE A STARTING JOB?
Caserio used the 15th overall pick in 2022 on Green for a reason. Now it's time for Green to prove he was worth the pick. He started 14 games as a rookie with mixed results. He flashed, but he also got overpowered too often, which affected his confidence. He missed last season with an injury but worked hard to get stronger and in better shape. The coaches love his attitude and his work ethic. They hope he can earn the job and keep the job. He's practicing with the starters early in camp. It's his job to lose. In his third season, it's time for Green to show the talent he had at Texas A&M and reward Caserio's faith in him.
CAN PIERCE BOUNCE BACK IN HIS THIRD SEASON?
Dameon Pierce had an outstanding rookie season but had trouble adjusting to Slowik's zone scheme that requires more patience and discipline than what Pierce was accustomed to. Pierce is a power back who likes to get the ball, hit the hole and run over defenders. Early in camp, he looks vastly improved, getting the ball, planting his foot and accelerating behind blockers looking to make plays on the second level. New addition Joe Mixon should be ideal in the Texans' system. He and Pierce could be a dynamic one-two punch.
WHO REPLACES COLLINS AND RANKINS?
Defensive tackles Maliek Collins and Sheldon Rankins combined for 11 sacks last season and helped the defense set a team record for sacks. They also helped the run defense improve from 32nd to sixth. Then Collins was traded to the 49ers for a seventh-round pick. Rankins signed with the Bengals. The Texans didn't use a high draft choice or spend big money in free agency on a tackle. Watching who emerges as the starters and how they compare to Rankins and Collins is going to be one of the most interesting things about camp and preseason. They have a lot of candidates. Khalil Davis and Kurt Hinish were the primary backups last season, and both return. Tim Settle Jr. and Foley Fatukasi are six-year veterans who signed as free agents. Rookie Marcus Harris was a seventh-round pick. McTelvin Agim is a three-year veteran. In passing situations, expect end Denico Autry to move inside to join Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter to give the defense three prodigious pass rushers.
WHO'LL WIN STARTING JOB OPPOSITE STINGLEY?
Derek Stingley Jr. proved last season he can be one of the league's best cornerbacks if he stays healthy. And that's a big if. He missed eight games as a rookie and six last season. If he can stay on the field, he could earn All-Pro recognition. The question is who starts opposite Stingley. Kamari Lassier, the top pick who was selected in the second round, can play outside or inside. If he starts outside, Desmond King II can play inside. He's in his eighth season. If a veteran like Jeffrey Okudah, a former third overall pick like Stingley, earns the starting job outside, maybe Lassiter plays in the slot. Caserio signed five veteran corners and drafted Lassiter, so it's going to be an intriguing position to watch.
CAN CALEN BULLOCK BECOME A STARTER?
The Texans used a third-round draft choice on safety Calen Bullock to see if he can use his size and speed to cover a lot of territory and excel against the pass and run. At 6-3, 190 with 4.4 speed, he certainly looks the part. Last year, injuries wiped on three safeties, leaving Jalen Pitre to play with three veterans who were signed off the street. Jimmie Ward, the leader of the secondary, has injury issues and turned 33 this week. The coaches would love for him to stay healthy, but his physical style of play isn't conducive to long-term durability. Eric Murray and M.J. Stewart are veteran backups who were lost with injuries last season. If Bullock adjusts to the NFL and plays the way the coaches hope, he and Pitre could give the Texans a gruesome twosome at physically demanding positions.
HOW WELL WILL TEXANS ADJUST TO KICKOFF RULE?
The Texans have outstanding special teams under coordinator Frank Ross. They've been No. 1 in the NFL in each of the last two seasons. Because Ross is an excellent coach, it'll be fun to watch what he does to try to capitalize on the new kickoff return rule. They're working on it in practice. Because of their coaching and talent, don't expect the Texans to fall behind when it comes to adjusting to the new rule that's designed to help the offense get better field position. Also, Ross has a new member of his kicking game, punter Tommy Townsend, who left the Chiefs for the Texans. Cameron Johnston did an exceptional job for three seasons and signed with Pittsburgh. Townsend replaces Johnston as the holder for Ka'imi Fairbairn. Jon Weeks, playing in his 15th season, continues to be the league's best snapper.
