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Texans Team Report: Ready For the Rodeo

· Jul 11 - 5 minutes read

After three long and miserable seasons, the Houston Texans enter 2023 as a promising team. While most NFL predictions still see Houston as a losing team, the combination of young stars and a new coaching staff give fans plenty to look forward to. Houston will be harder to fade on the sports betting sites as this team could surprise this season. It all depends on how quickly rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud can learn.

Texans Team Report: Ready For the Rodeo — Quarterback C.J Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans | Alex bierens de haan/getty images/afp

Training Camp Info

Coach: DeMeco Ryans (1st season)
Training Camp Reporting Dates: July 18 (Rookies); July 25 (Veterans)
First Preseason Game: Aug. 10, at New England
Week 1: Sept. 10, at Baltimore
Bye: Week 7

Top Training Camp Storyline

Houston made plenty of NFL news via both the NFL Draft and free agency. The biggest was at quarterback. While it seems obvious that Stroud will start, it’s not set in stone. Davis Mills is the incumbent starter and Houston also brought in Case Keenum. If either outperforms Stroud, they could start the season as the QB1 like Mitch Trubisky did at Pittsburgh last year over Kenny Pickett.

There is also plenty of competition to determine the team’s three starting receivers. The Texans brought in former Super Bowl champion Robert Woods while Nico Collins, who struggled last season, are slated as starters. That could change quickly if rookies like Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson outplay them. Noah Brown also comes in from Dallas and could snag one of the starting spots.

And on defense, Will Anderson Jr. should slot at the left defensive end opposite Jonathan Greenard. But the presence of Jerry Hughes and Chase Winovich could make things interesting this training camp.

Impact Rookies

Both Stroud and Anderson are at short online gambling lines to win Rookie of the Year in their respective fields. Stroud is listed at 7-1 while Anderson is the favorite at +325. Not only does Stroud have a chance to impress, but his play could be what determines if Houston can turn heads or if it will be as bad as Las Vegas NFL odds expect. Anderson, on the other hand, should be effective right away.

But the two are not the only notable rookies in Houston. Henry To’o To’o could prove to be the steal of the draft if he can beat out Denzel Perryman for the starting middle linebacker position. Together with his Crimson Tide teammate, Anderson, the duo could make a formidable duo in the front seven.

Offseason Move(s) That Turned Heads

DeMeco Ryans, CJ Stroud and Will Anderson give the #Texans plenty hope after 3 years of darkness.

From @GMFB, a look at the @Texans new era and realistic expectations. pic.twitter.com/NGhq9osqyD

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) July 11, 2023

Of course, the Texans’ biggest move of the offseason was by finding a way to draft Stroud and Anderson with the second and third overall picks. Some may criticize Nick Caserio for giving up a lot to make it happen. But Houston got both a franchise quarterback and a franchise edge rusher.

The general manager also poached rising star tight end Dalton Shultz from Dallas, likely to provide Stroud a reliable target in the short field. On defense, the team plugged many holes by signing the likes of Sheldon Rankins and Hassan Ridgeway at tackle, Jimmie Ward at safety, and Perryman at linebacker.

The Weakest Link

Caserio is to be commended for being aggressive this offseason. His moves signal to the rest that Houston is done being a laughingstock and will try to contend. The NFC South is a winnable division even Jacksonville appears head-and-shoulders above everyone else. But for Houston to do it, Stroud and the offense will have to deliver.

Stroud, like most rookie quarterbacks, will be on-and-off. And he does not have the best receiving corps. Woods is a wily veteran but he hasn’t been the same since his injury. Someone will have to step up and be that go-to receiver.

Final Analysis

It’s tough to gauge how good Houston is relative to the NFL. A lot of Caserio’s moves appear great on paper. And Ryans is well-lauded as a defensive-minded coach. But it will still be about executing on the field. Since Houston has a lot of new players with a new coaching staff, the first half of the season might be just as bad as the last two.

But once the team starts to gel, especially the offense, Houston might start to turn some heads. The Texans have a pretty tough schedule but three of their last four games are against the division. They also play host to former quarterback Deshaun Watson and Cleveland in Week 16. The Texans will likely still have a losing record. But the team could finish strong with these last four weeks and be a decent underdog NFL pick.