Here's everything Texans Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud said following practice at The Greenbrier on Wednesday morning.
Here's everything Houston Texans Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud said following practice at The Greenbrier on Wednesday morning, including his status for Saturday's game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Question: On if the team is ready to play another opponent
C.J. Stroud: “Definitely. It's been good to play against our defense and them to go against us. A lot of good-on-good. Yes, it’s about that time. Guys are just tired of each other. They want to play somebody else.”
Q: On how he wants to be involved in the first preseason game
Stroud: “It's up to the coaches. Whatever they feel is suit for me. I like to be out there and get hit once or twice or whatever just to feel the emotion again. It's a little different than practice. But, whatever [Head Coach] DeMeco [Ryans] decides, I'm good with that.”
Q: On if he’s seen a sense of urgency in practice from Head Coach DeMeco Ryans
Stroud: “I think he's had that since the start. That hasn't changed. I think every day is intentional. Every day is urgent. I think every day he's done a good job of trying to push guys to that limit to where it's going to be hard in those games. Personally, I don't see a difference just because he's been that way. But, I think that's a good thing. I'll definitely say the other guys are starting to buy into him more.”
Q: On if this Training Camp has felt like his rookie year due to learning a new offensive system
Stroud: “It's a little different just because I know more coverages. I know style trees. I know coordinators. I’ve played against a good amount of different schemes, so it's a little easier. Then, there’s a lot of similarities from what Nick [Caley] is bringing to what we were doing in the past. It's a little similar in those lights, but it's not as hard as my rookie year was. My rookie year was like learning Chinese. This year is a little bit of that, but not as much. It's a little easier.”
Q: On what areas he thinks taking more ownership of the offense will help him
Stroud: “Being able to see things that maybe coaches don't see. Being on the field, I'm able to have a different point of view. I think that'll be helpful for our guys. It's still not going to be easy just because we say we're doing it. I'm going to make mistakes. I’m also going to do things right. So, it's just learning from my mistakes and trying to be better.”
Q: On if he’s had a change of preparation
Stroud: “Not really. Even when I wasn't technically doing that, I was still doing it just to know when I had to throw hot, know when I was getting blitzed. So, it's the same thing now. It's just picking it up or learning. Doing the same thing, but in a different manner, so it's... I changed it a little bit, but not a ton.”
Q: On where his self-criticism comes from
Stroud: “Probably just being a little brother. Always wanting to fit in with my siblings and them most of the time not wanting to. So, being hard on myself like, ‘What did I do wrong for them not to let me play the game?’ So, probably stems from that. But, my siblings love me. I love them. It's a little bit of that. But, I don't think it's a bad thing. At times, it can be, but I think I try to balance it.”
Q: On how being at The Greenbrier is helping the team
Stroud: “To me, it's the same. At least you try to treat it the same. It's a little different. It's beautiful out here. The weather's great, different, but cool. I like it. I'm a city guy, but I like nature as well. It's cool. It breaks the monotony of camp. You just bond with your teammates more. There isn’t really much to do out here, so.”
Q: On how he would assess the progress of the offensive installation
Stroud: “Every day we're growing. Everything's starting to come a lot easier. We're starting to make more plays, know what guys are good at in the scheme and trying to fit the guys to do those type of things. So, it's not overnight. Our defense, they've been together for three years almost, a lot of the same guys. So, they're making calls and checks quicker, sometimes, than we can and then it's vice versa. So, I think it's good. We're one of the best, I think the best, defense in the league and it's been hard but it's also very great for us to get a good challenge every day.”
Q: On how hard it is to take lessons away from plays when the defense is succeeding at practice
Stroud: “It's the balance between being a competitor and then falling in love with the process, or the progress, and not the result in the moment. Because sometimes you can throw a ball and maybe it looks like a bad ball, but we have bad communication between myself and the receiver. So, that's just one point of emphasis on having to work through those kinks because that's what comes in with a newer scheme. So, other than that you still don't want to be turning the ball over or see bad plays. But, I think we've gotten past that part in camp and now it's just more competitive on both sides. You got to be able to still compete and hold yourself to a standard that you're not going to make mistakes. But, when those things happen, learning from them and just having that balance.”
Q: On if the team gets a boost from seeing LB Christian Harris and RB Dameon Pierce back on the field
Stroud: “Yeah, it's dope to see those guys come back. It's not always easy. They feel like they're isolated from the team and I think the most important thing is just getting them around us and around the guys. I think those guys are pivotal to our success and I'm excited to see those guys come back and work their tails off.”
Q: On how exciting it is to see Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley’s scheme progress in Training Camp
Stroud: “Yeah, it's exciting. It's very great. He [Nick Caley] comes from a different style than I'm used to, at least in the NFL. So, it's cool just to learn something new and put another tool in my toolbox. Another thing to the other point was, sometimes in our scheme, our defense, it's not going to work against them. But, just to get the reps down, even though it might not even work, it helps. I think he's very positive when it comes to that. He understands that. So, I think it's been great to just get down our foundation and now we're building from more of a game-plan emphasis. I think that'll be fun.”
Q: What he thinks is contributing to more 1,000-yard seasons from rookie wide receivers in the NFL
Stroud: “I would just say, keeping the main thing the main thing and staying focused on what got you there. I think a lot of times guys come to the league and could be coaching, it could be outside noise, but they change what they've been doing. Of course, you have to adapt. But, I would say, especially if you're getting picked in some of those top rounds at receiver, they pick you there for a reason. I think, as coaching and as a quarterback, we got to find ways to make our receivers good in what they've been doing and, of course, try to make them grow. But, I think it's a big part on myself to get guys comfortable in the offense, in the scheme and make them feel like they were in college, just having fun. I think that's where you get those plays and those type of seasons.”
Q: On how he has tried to improve his body language and other small aspects of himself
Stroud: “I don't know. It's hard. I'm very competitive. I don't like losing. I don't like making mistakes. But, I would say in those moments, try to just breathe, relax, try to just calm my mind and just try to just find something positive. I always try to remind myself; this is cool. I'm in the NFL. God didn't have to bless me with this, but he chose to, and I got to steward it the right way and I don't think complaining about... I can complain every day if I really wanted to, but there's no positive in that. So, I try to just try that and just be grateful for the little things and even though they're not little, they're huge, they're big. I woke up this morning and I'm able-minded, able-bodied and I'm just blessed to have that. So, I would say that helps me be more positive and have better body language.”
Q: On if he sees Rams Head Coach Sean McVay’s teaching skills in Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley
Stroud: “Definitely. You can tell that those two guys are very close and they talk the same. They have the same tone of voice, which is kind of funny, same energy. Cal’ [Caley], he's a little turnt up. Well, not a little. He's a lot turnt up. He's turnt up to the max and I'm more of a chill guy, at least, on the field, so it's good. It's like yin and yang. But he helps me, I help him, I think. But, he's very Sean McVay-like, and so when I met Sean last year at practice, it was very similar to what I get now in practice or in meetings.”
Q: On if there are any defenses or games from last year that have helped him grow
Stroud: “I think every game, you can find something. It's really just learning the tree and who the defensive coordinator is. It's like, is he a defensive line guy, is he a linebacker guy, is he a defensive back guy, because a lot of times they try to make plays for their babies, which is their position group, and that's something that I try to remember. Sometimes guys just call whatever and you don't know. So, there is a million different type of defenses and you try to just learn your foundational stuff and then grow from there. So, it's really about what you do to help control that. But, it's not easy. There's a lot of smart guys. I think some of the best guys I've faced… I'm not going to go there because they're going to put it on ESPN, so thanks.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything QB C.J. Stroud said following practice at The Greenbrier
Category: Football
