(SportsRadio 610) - Texans rookie quarterback CJ Stroud is off to an impressive start to his NFL career. And while many around the country have been pleasantly surprised with the former Ohio State product, his head coach DeMeco Ryans isn't necessarily what you'd call surprised.
The Texans' first-year head coach says it all starts with the preparation that Stroud has put in from the first day he became a Houston Texan.
"He's really dedicated to the process of studying and making sure he's prepared when he goes into games," Ryans said. "He's also had success because I think the guys around him have all gelled well together. They play well together, so it just starts with the mental preparation for him, which he's off the charts."
Through Stroud's first six games in the NFL, he ranks 10th in passing yards (1,660, but ranked fourth at the bye week), fourth in yards per game (276.7), 11th in touchdowns (11) and has thrown the fewest interceptions (1) for any starting quarterback that has manned the position since week one.
Taking care of the ball is something his head coach is most proud of.
"When it comes to the turnover battle, I'm proud of where we are," Ryans said. "First off, it starts with the offense protecting the football. We spent a lot of time talking about the ball and how important it is to winning games, and it's definitely the game-changer."
Another transformative element to the Texans' success through their first six games has been the personnel they've surrounded their young quarterback with.
Robert Woods, an 11-year veteran that's on his fourth team and third in three seasons, has been as vital as anyone to the early successes of Stroud and the Texans.
Woods, 31, is two years removed from a devastating ACL injury, leads the Texans in targets with 43, is second in receptions, behind Nico Collins, with 23 and is third on the team with 227 yards in six starts.
He's also second on the team with eight receptions on third downs, behind Nico Collins who has reeled in nine.
"It's been, I think, really huge for his development," Ryans said when asked about the veteran presence on the roster. "Rob (Woods) being in this offense before and understanding it, I think that's helped C.J. a ton. Having him, having veterans on the offensive line, to have that security up front, it's really big for a rookie quarterback."
Woods has not practiced this week due to a foot injury.
With the offensive line still in flux with Laremy Tunsil nursing a left knee injury and Tytus Howard playing out of position at left guard, the Texans' line miraculously ranks inside the top-15 through their first six games.
Another free agent acquisition that got off to a slow start, but has come along lately is Dalton Schultz.
He was thought to be Stroud's security blanket of sorts before the season began. But with a combination of offensive line issues and him having to provide extra blocking, which hasn't been very good to Slowik finding ways for him to get the ball more quickly, Schultz has started to impact Stroud and the offense in recent weeks.
Schultz, a sixth-year pro in his first season with the Texans, has caught a touchdown pass in three straight games for the first time in his career.
Along with Woods, Schultz has not just become a red zone target, but a legitimate go-to guy on key third downs.
While it didn't hold up, Schultz caught the go-ahead touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the waning minutes of that 21-19 week five loss.
Schultz has two catches inside the opponents 10-yard line and two fourth quarter touchdowns, which ranks second in the league through seven weeks.
As the Texans look to win for the fourth time in five weeks for the first time since the 2019 season, the veteran infrastructure around Stroud must remain healthy and productive for the Texans to continue to "put it all together and go on a race to do some special things," as Stroud put it.
"We know that we have a lot of work to do and a lot in the tank left, which is exciting," Stroud said.
