They’re so f-wording good. I think back over my sports fan lifetime, and wonder how many times my team - or a player on my team - was the objectively best on the field and I had utter, at-peace confidence that they would deliver… maybe Campbell; ‘93-‘95 Dream, for sure; maybe… peak Arian Foster; certainly those 2017-19 Astros… This Texans defense is on that list. It is, by leaps and bounds, the best Houston Football anything of my lifetime. They are a menace, and I have 100% confidence they are going to bring this MFer home. I’ve never felt this way about a football team in this town. And I’m happy for you the ringleader of their psycho circus is a Baylor Bear. How fun.
There's no nuance anymore. It's all black and white, with everyone screaming to not only make their point but to ensure everyone hears their point. I'd rather live in a world where I can look at Stroud's game and be comfortable saying, You know what?... It was two egregiously bad plays surrounded by *a lot* of really good plays. Did he look a little overwhelmed? Yeah. Those replays of the fumbled snaps - he looked like he was focused on Steeler defensive ends. But... that's fixable. Everything else? The game plan, the running game; the protection; the throws, the catches; the runs after catches.... all of that was as good as it's ever been. If they clean up the messes - and they were big messes - we're going to go someplace I have dreamed about going for 40+ years. That's right: we're going to Dollywood. Who's with me? LET'S GO!!!!!!..............
Watson wanted out of a toxic culture being set by Bill O'Brien and a failed youth minister. That's not where the Texans are right now; not with DeMeco. I don't obviously have any insight - but I'd be shocked if at least the young core of this team didn't want to both stay together and play for Ryans.
If CJ can play well and the McNairs will front out cash money in the form of signing bonuses then the Texans will remain contenders for the next 5-7 years. Tis is how Lurie/Roseman operate.
Very realistic post, this is what they should do. Hopefully CJ returns to his rookie form. But it's brrn 2 years and 2 different OC's with regression still happening. My question is if CJ stays the same, doesn't get better, doesn't get worse next year then what do you do? Re-sign him and for how much? Let him walk?
HE'S NOT RETURNING TO HIS ROOKIE FORM! You all need to vanquish that idea. What they did in 2023 was not sustainable; it was a make-shift operation because they didn't have near-enough horses. Fortunately, defenses had no book on Stroud & Collins had been a non-factor so they were able to fling stuff against the wall and get away with it. In 2024, opponents had cracked the code and Slowick could not un-crack it. He had no answers, and it's why he's gone. Watch any good game Stroud's had this year - set aside screaming BUT THE OPPONENT! - and look at how they operated: *that* is the model going forward. Heck, Monday night, minus the mistakes - that's what they want to be. You don't ignore the fumbles and the interception - but you also don't ignore the... however many other plays where they looked like a finely-tuned machine, moving up & down the field. And that is not a reflection on Stroud; it's how Ryans wants to run his team: defense, defense, defense. The offense's primary objective is to get to 21. If you want a wide-open, balls-to-the-wall offense, you're probably rooting for the wrong team.
It took Trevor 5 seasons, Baker 5 seasons. Darnold 5 seasons. Remember, CJ has won 3 playoff games in 3 seasons. That is more currently than Dak, Same as LAMAR, more than Trevor, Darnold, Herbert, and Love. Does he need to continue to improve? Yes, but he is only 24 years old.
So 5 seasons? I'll give him next season, but it's looking like he's not the guy. Only 24, he was only 21 when he was playing much better than he currently is. Is it wrong to hold CJ to the level of play he showed he's capable of playing at his rookie yr? For the guys you listed, there are many more Mahomes/Maye/Nix/Purdy/Allen's etc.. of the world than there are the guys you listed. Guys that get it. Some get it and some never get it, I'm afraid rookie CJ is something way far in the past and he ain't never coming back. The playoffs thing posters keep posting doesn't impress me at all. Let him string together 3 more rookie yr performances in these playoffs and I'll happily eat crow. Why, because if he can play like that there will be a Lombardi in a case down on Kirby in my lifetime.
There was definitely not “ a lot “ of good plays with a few bad plays sprinkled in. It’s the opposite. CJ was off the majority of the game, regardless of result of the play.
What if there are "residuals" or lingering symptoms of the concussions? This is possible. He just doesn't seem to be processing normally. Even the pace, nature, and content of his speech have changed. I don't recall the ongoing mantra of "you know's" in his first year speech.
Agreed, what happened to the accuracy and the stepping up into the pocket he was doing his rookie yr. When I'm talking about his level of play, I'm not talking about the numbers he puts up now vs then. I'm talking about the way he plays and the consistency he had then throwing the ball vs what he's doing now. As far as your last paragraph goes I'm not ignoring anything. What I'm saying is he crapped the bed Monday night and the Texans were lucky to win inspite of CJ. If he continues to play at that level they will never win a championship with CJ at QB.
The league adjusted to Slowik and he could adjust his offense to help the Oline. It took almost half the season for the line to be improved this season. Then CJ missed 3 games. So, CJ is behind in comfort in this offense.
One of the things people don’t realize is that the Texans’ strength of schedule in CJ’s rookie year was 28th in the league. In 2025, it was no. 1. That might have something to do with his 2 and 3 year’s regression, not to mention the failures of the OCs and OLs. I think that CJ has talent and potential to be great, but he is definitely unproven at this point. Unless they can get a bargain by extending him early, ala Nico, they need to just give him the QO and give it another year.
Sure, but it wasn't just on paper, he wasn't doing the things he is this season to hurt the team. He wasn't running into sacks, he wasn't throwing terribly inaccurate passes to miss wide open receivers. He made some rookie mistakes, but he looked better in getting his numbers as a rookie than he has getting his numbers this season. It's like how if you look at someone with perfect shooting mechanics and see a low 3 point percentage and you can basically know it'll improve vs a guy with a fully broken jumper and a low 3 point percentage. This season CJ has been the guy with a broken jumper and inconsistent results.
Also Dell's playmaking played a role in 23 season... but yeah... lot of playground football with professionals that rookie season
