Case Keenum knows a thing or two about working with highly touted draft picks, particularly quarterbacks.
Set to enter his 12th season in the NFL, the former University of Houston quarterback has worked with the likes of Jared Goff (No. 1, 2016) and Dwayne Haskins (No. 15, 2019) in their rookie years. Keenum also backed up top overall pick Baker Mayfield for two seasons while in Cleveland from 2020-2021 and most recently played behind the Bills' Josh Allen during the 2022 season.
Now, at the age of 35, Keenum has a new challenge in his third different stint with the Texans, but a familiar one. Helping a young, talented quarterback get a handle on life in the NFL.
"I have been with some younger guys," Keenum said. "We have not had anytime around the rookies yet. I've watched maybe one or two Ohio State games that he (Stroud) played and was obviously very impressed but I haven't been able to get my eyes on him yet in person. I'm excited to get to get to work with him, the excitement he's already brought to the building, to get in person and get to work I'm excited to do that."
One of the things Case said he learned early on when he first entered the league back in 2012 with the Texans as an undrafted free agent and a member of their practice squad, was that as a player, you have to keep learning through all of the tough times.
Keenum acknowledges that there's going to be plenty of learning curves ahead for the Texans rookie quarterback, but is there to make sure he keeps getting better and stays positive during times of adversity.
"You're not going to be perfect, especially as a rookie," Keenum said. "There's a lot of things you don't know, a lot of things you don't know you don't know. I want to help as much as I can, I don't care if I'm playing or if I'm not, if I'm watching, I'm going to do everything I possibly can to help the Houston Texans win at all times, that's my job."
While every rookie, regardless of position, goes through growing pains as they progress through their first season in the league. Keenum said the Texans' new offensive coordinator, Bobby Slowik, who is entering his first year as a coordinator and play caller, is impressive.
"I'm excited, he's smart as heck," Keenum said. "I've been in this type of offense in a lot of different ways. It's like the best-of-series, the greatest hits of the west-coast offense or whatever you want to call it. A lot of the things that I really love about this offense, we have in. Even some things that I'm not used to, I'm learning, but they've been able to put in. It'll be fun to see where this offense goes, the direction it branches of to."
When the Texans hired Slowik earlier this offseason and the 35-year-old coordinator spoke with the Houston media for the first time, he said his offense will be 'Aggressive, fast and decisive.'
As the San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator last season, Slowik oversaw an offense that was led by three different quarterbacks including Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo and Mr. Irrelevant at quarterback, Brock Purdy.
Offensively, the 49ers finished second overall in passer rating, seventh in passing touchdowns, 13th in passing yards and fifth in total yards.
"I think it's a great system to come into right away as a rookie," Keenum said. "I think it's a great foundation of what NFL quarterbacking is about. Get the ball where it's supposed to be, when it's supposed to be."
One of the strengths of Stroud's game in college was his ability to anticipate when his receivers would pop open. One of the hardest things to do as a quarterback is to throw with anticipation and accuracy, and Stroud has shown a natural ability to do that.
Keenum thinks Stroud will adapt well, but acknowledged that the transition from college to the NFL is noticeable, and you have to constantly adjust, even if you're 12 years in the league like him.
"Some of the timing of college offenses especially these days, even when I was running a lot of shotgun, spread, air-raid, whatever you want to call that type of offense, there's different timing and rhythm and the rush is different in college. It's a lot different, some of the pockets are a little dirtier, there's some bigger, faster, stronger guys that are rushing the quarterbacks.
"So, being able to know the timing of routes, getting your footwork to matchup with the routes, the concept to build my foundation of pro-style offenses, that will help continue a career. Obviously for me, year 12, going in still grinding these little details that I think are still so extremely important to play quarterback at this level."
