Houston Texans OC describes benefits of having CJ Stroud learn from adversity

CJ Stroud probably will be the most watched rookie in the NFL this side of Bryce Young. And he’s learning every lesson, including how to handle adversity.

A coach can’t game plan for problems. But in training camp, a coach can show a young quarterback an array of personnel groupings. There will be interceptions or gains (or losses) from scramble drills and hot routes. It’s all to teach a young quarterback.

“I think it’s massive that you go through bumps in the road,” said new Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik about CJ Stroud.

“The season is so long in the NFL. You can get to week eight and don’t even remember what happened in week two. There’s so many hiccups along the way, across the board. (And it’s important to) being able at that position to learn how to handle, how to respond to a coach, how to respond to a teammate, how to respond to yourself, in order to maintain and keep your confidence.”

#Texans OC Bobby Slowik on a young QB like C.J. Stroud learning from adversity @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/H2WOcjkQ5y

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 1, 2023

Slowik said the top lesson a quarterback needs to learn is how “messy a pocket can get.” Of course, C.J. Stroud isn’t going to learn that while working against his own defense. Those guys aren’t allowed anywhere near a quarterback.

Slowik came with head coach DeMeco Ryans from the 49ers. Ryans was San Fran’s defensive coordinator while Slowik was in charge of the passing game. And he did an extraordinary job last season dealing with the mostly young 49er quarterbacks. Trey Lance started the season. Then Jimmy Garoppolo took over for Lance when Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Then rookie Brock Purdy became the starter when Garappolo went down with a season-ending foot injury. With all that, San Francisco still made the NFC title game.

The Texans selected Stroud with the second pick of April’s draft. So the only quarterback with more attention is Bryce Young, who went No. 1 to the Panthers.

So far, Ryans says he appreciates what he’s seeing from Stroud during these early days of training camp.

“What you see about C.J…. (is) the work and the preparation that he does when he’s not here,” Ryans told reporters. “He’s a true football junkie: loves football, always watching football, always asking for extra cutups from our coaches. So, I’m just impressed with the mental part of him and just how much he loves the game of football.”

And CJ Stroud, through all the studying, says he quickly “fell in love” with the new offense.

“It’s a different style than what I’ve played in college,” said the former Ohio State star. “But a lot of similarities to it, as well. Very timing-based, and I’ve actually really dove deep into it with Jerrod [Johnson] and Bill [Lazor] and Shane [Day], and then Case [Keenum] and Davis [Mills] have done a great job helping me, as well. So, just a lot of late nights studying, a lot of early mornings studying just really trying to get this thing and know it like the back of my hand.”