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CJ Stroud year 2


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Tell me who's making the ol calls and I'll tell you who's having a sophomore slump. This ol basically has 2 rookies on it, Green and Scruggs and quality backups. They can't improve ? They played a close game on the road against a good team and lost on the last play of the game. Yet the season is over.

Let's get the team healthy and see where they stand.
They are not rookies. They both played some during their rookie seasons. This is Greens third year in the league. Yes he missed his sophomore year but he’s been in the building. No excuse
 
There's a play in the GB game where the DB Evan Williams just literally pushed Green with 1 arm to the side on his way to the QB. Like, that just can't happen man.
Did you see the play where as soon as the ball was snapped, Titus Howard, without even being touched, just falls back and lands on his butt? In fact, that happened on more than one play.
 
Did you see the play where as soon as the ball was snapped, Titus Howard, without even being touched, just falls back and lands on his butt? In fact, that happened on more than one play.
Yeah and he tried to play it off as if it was someone else’s fault but the reality is… he tripped over his own feet.
 
Did you see the play where as soon as the ball was snapped, Titus Howard, without even being touched, just falls back and lands on his butt? In fact, that happened on more than one play.

yep i saw that...very early in the game. I also seen the sack coming from CJ's backside where Shultz was supposed to chip the guy and release. The block Schultz gave was so weak it barely altered the LB's path on his way to clean CJ's clock.

Yeah and he tried to play it off as if it was someone else’s fault but the reality is… he tripped over his own feet.

Yeah, i don't know if he tried to play it off, but that's what it looked like.

Problem is again tho, The stunts and everything are coming over Green/Scruggs' gaps...mostly. Scruggs tho usually is able to keep someone engaged in a block. Green is...whiffing a bit too much.
 
Tell me who's making the ol calls and I'll tell you who's having a sophomore slump. This ol basically has 2 rookies on it, Green and Scruggs and quality backups. They can't improve ? They played a close game on the road against a good team and lost on the last play of the game. Yet the season is over.

Let's get the team healthy and see where they stand.
Heard on the radio today that the Texans next bunch (i want to say 5) of opponents are nowhere near as fierce as the Packers or Vikings. Should provide plenty of opportunity to get better.
 
I think Scruggs is struggling mightily. Particularly in calling protections
May have a lot to do with how long it takes them to get to the line.

But if they break the huddle & get set earlier then Tunsil's going to false start us into oblivion.
 
I think Scruggs is struggling mightily. Particularly in calling protections

May have a lot to do with how long it takes them to get to the line.

But if they break the huddle & get set earlier then Tunsil's going to false start us into oblivion.

One thing that has been said is CJ get frustrated that the plays are called in too slow by Slowik (pun not intended).

We have all seen CJ clapping his hands to get the ball off before the clock expires.

How much does that have to do with it?
 
They are not rookies. They both played some during their rookie seasons. This is Greens third year in the league. Yes he missed his sophomore year but he’s been in the building. No excuse
Scruggs played LG, these are his 1st games at C calling protections, if Stroud isn't the guy calling protections. Green played 5 games as a rookie and sat out last yr. He's still very green. However you cant have Green/Scruggs not being able to pickup simple stunts. I would be OK with Patterson at C and Kendrick at LG if this doesn't improve in short order.
 
One thing that has been said is CJ get frustrated that the plays are called in too slow by Slowik (pun not intended).

We have all seen CJ clapping his hands to get the ball off before the clock expires.

How much does that have to do with it?
Looked like a lot of things were discombobulated last game on the offensive side of the ball.
 
Heard on the radio today that the Texans next bunch (i want to say 5) of opponents are nowhere near as fierce as the Packers or Vikings. Should provide plenty of opportunity to get better.
That may or may not be true, but you can best believe they’ll try to employ the same simulated pressure looks on 3rd downs.
 
Scruggs played LG, these are his 1st games at C calling protections, if Stroud isn't the guy calling protections. Green played 5 games as a rookie and sat out last yr. He's still very green. However you cant have Green/Scruggs not being able to pickup simple stunts. I would be OK with Patterson at C and Kendrick at LG if this doesn't improve in short order.
Hell I’d put Patterson at C and Fischer at RT…
 
Scruggs played LG, these are his 1st games at C calling protections, if Stroud isn't the guy calling protections. Green played 5 games as a rookie and sat out last yr. He's still very green. However you cant have Green/Scruggs not being able to pickup simple stunts. I would be OK with Patterson at C and Kendrick at LG if this doesn't improve in short order.
Five games? I read that he started 14 games as a rookie.
Scruggs played LG, these are his 1st games at C calling protections, if Stroud isn't the guy calling protections. Green played 5 games as a rookie and sat out last yr. He's still very green. However you cant have Green/Scruggs not being able to pickup simple stunts. I would be OK with Patterson at C and Kendrick at LG if this doesn't improve in short order.
Can you give me an example of what a protection is? I’m trying to learn. I mean… I know what an audible is but protection… not so much. When and how are they called?
 
Five games? I read that he started 14 games as a rookie.

Can you give me an example of what a protection is? I’m trying to learn. I mean… I know what an audible is but protection… not so much. When and how are they called?
This doesn't fully answer your question, but here goes...

The center in football is usually the one to call out pass protections:
  • Communication
    The center is the primary communicator between the offensive line and is responsible for directing them on how to execute the play.

  • Line call
    The center typically makes the first line call based on the defensive formation. This call indicates which side of the defense is stronger and helps the guards and tackles coordinate who to block.

  • Identifying the middle linebacker
    The center identifies the middle linebacker, also known as the "mike", before the snap. This helps the center determine which direction to work and tells the running back where to go.
A little more info here - Pass Protection
 
Five games? I read that he started 14 games as a rookie.

Can you give me an example of what a protection is? I’m trying to learn. I mean… I know what an audible is but protection… not so much. When and how are they called?
5 games healthy, my bad.

They identify what side the pressure is coming from. blitzes/stunts etc. A coach on here can do a much better job than I can of explaining it.
 
5 games healthy, my bad.

They identify what side the pressure is coming from. blitzes/stunts etc. A coach on here can do a much better job than I can of explaining it.
You explained it perfectly. Marcus too. Thank you both. That’s kinda what I figured Stroud to be doing… I also assumed that person to be the line captain’s job (Tunsil), not the center’s.

Now that I look back at Scrugg’s college success… I do remember this being one of his strengths. He’s a football smart dude.
 
i do miss having a Chris Meyers out there. He was a beast!
Surprised he never got into coaching. Seemed tailor made for it. Similar with J-Jo, thought he'd have been made a defensive quality control guy for us or another similar starting coaching gig.

Wonder what he's up to now, maybe just enjoying retirement.
 
Surprised he never got into coaching. Seemed tailor made for it. Similar with J-Jo, thought he'd have been made a defensive quality control guy for us or another similar starting coaching gig.

Wonder what he's up to now, maybe just enjoying retirement.
Johnathan Joseph became a coach for the Texans last year. Not sure if he still is one but he’s trying to break into the coaching ranks.
 
Johnathan Joseph became a coach for the Texans last year. Not sure if he still is one but he’s trying to break into the coaching ranks.
I knew he did some things in camp as part of a fellowship program but as far as I'm aware he's not a fulltime coach anywhere.
 
In terms of the hot take guys I used to think Cowturd was always reasonably, but in recent years the guy has slowly turned into skip bayless lite.
I find him to still be reasonable and willing to change his mind. If someone proves him wrong he'll admit so whereas Skip would just fabricate some other reason for disliking them.
 
A lot has been said about Strouds accuracy compared to last year.

I believe it to be the amount of sacks and pressure he is facing this year.

That’s not saying he can’t handle sacks and pressure.

He, and no other QB for that matter can handle the amount of sacks and pressure he is facing without it affecting his game.

Plus the play calling has been shitty.
 
A lot has been said about Strouds accuracy compared to last year.

I believe it to be the amount of sacks and pressure he is facing this year.

That’s not saying he can’t handle sacks and pressure.

He, and no other QB for that matter can handle the amount of sacks and pressure he is facing without it affecting his game.

Plus the play calling has been shitty.
Agreed. Hard to be accurate when you get happy feet. And no matter how disciplined you are the continued punishment takes its toll.

I thought earlier in the year they had to take the training wheels off Stroud and open up the playbook. But I actually think it’s the opposite now. They need to dial things back and have CJ operate more like a game manager. Jim Harbaugh this offense because the OL wont be up to the task to depend on CJ being superman each week.

Mixon is going to be the straw that stirs the drink with this team. The OL issues can’t be fixed in-season. It requires coaching/personnel changes.

Hopefully other backs can step up and take carries off Mixon. Run run run and occasionally hit Nico/Tank when the defense bites on play action. No more long developing routes and dropping back to pass 35+ times.

It’s time to embrace the identity of a ball control, limit turnovers, and play good defense team. That’s who they are this season.
 
Agreed. Hard to be accurate when you get happy feet. And no matter how disciplined you are the continued punishment takes its toll.

I thought earlier in the year they had to take the training wheels off Stroud and open up the playbook. But I actually think it’s the opposite now. They need to dial things back and have CJ operate more like a game manager. Jim Harbaugh this offense because the OL wont be up to the task to depend on CJ being superman each week.

Mixon is going to be the straw that stirs the drink with this team. The OL issues can’t be fixed in-season. It requires coaching/personnel changes.

Hopefully other backs can step up and take carries off Mixon. Run run run and occasionally hit Nico/Tank when the defense bites on play action. No more long developing routes and dropping back to pass 35+ times.

It’s time to embrace the identity of a ball control, limit turnovers, and play good defense team. That’s who they are this season.
It's who they should be.

Getting Kenyon out of there will help. Caserio needs to make a couple of moves though.
 
It's who they should be.

Getting Kenyon out of there will help. Caserio needs to make a couple of moves though.
Another model would be Russel Wilson with Pete Carrol’s offenses.

Fans would complain that Carrol would only let the reigns off Russ when they absolutely had to… attempts were under 30 per game and games consistently close with the ball control offense. But the OL dictated that because if Russ was throwing all game he’d get killed behind the OL and that strong defense they had would gas due to spending too much time on the field.

Run the ball, shorten the game and play ball control turnover free offense. When the opportunity strikes get the ball into your playmakers hands with deep shots in the passing game opened up by play action. That’s how the Texans will have to win this season.
 
It's who they should be.

Getting Kenyon out of there will help. Caserio needs to make a couple of moves though.
Slowik has made zero adjustments game to game. Win or lose it’s been an awful offense based on talent on this team. What may be worse regarding Slowik is he makes no adjustments from first half to second half. This offense is literally unwatchable
 
I suspect Slowik's insistence on tight formations, no 5 or 7 step drops, and no slants is indicative of his effort to gradually evolve the offense toward a pure ZBS like he ran under Shanahan in San Fran. This could be why Stroud suddenly appears uncomfortable in the system and is processing reads slower. If the offense last year was closer to what Stroud ran in college, that would explain his historic rookie season, and would also mean we're watching Stroud's real NFL learning curve now.
 
I suspect Slowik's insistence on tight formations, no 5 or 7 step drops, and no slants is indicative of his effort to gradually evolve the offense toward a pure ZBS like he ran under Shanahan in San Fran. This could be why Stroud suddenly appears uncomfortable in the system and is processing reads slower. If the offense last year was closer to what Stroud ran in college, that would explain his historic rookie season, and would also mean we're watching Stroud's real NFL learning curve now.
Assuming that is the case, then the obvious question would be….WHY?
 
How many snaps was CJ under center last night? I know the first series was all shotgun or pistol or whatever the hell they call it now!
 
How about this radical idea…. how about trying to fix the OL first …BEFORE …BEFORE…BEFORE …trying to fix what’s really not broken, but doesn’t work because of what really is broken.

It’s obvious why CJ is struggling,, so why act as if you’re ignoring it? It’s as if you’re ignoring the car has four flat tires, but want it to go 70 mph anyway. It’s f’cking insane.
 
Slowik has made zero adjustments game to game. Win or lose it’s been an awful offense based on talent on this team. What may be worse regarding Slowik is he makes no adjustments from first half to second half. This offense is literally unwatchable
I’m betting we’re not seeing the offense the way Bobby is envisioning it in his mind.

I have to assume it looks right in practice but once they break the huddle it’s more about the Jimmies & the Joes. We’ve seen enough to know we’ve got serious problems with our Jimmies & Joes.

Slowick is doing a crap job understanding that problem & worse job fixing it.
 
Slowik has made zero adjustments game to game. Win or lose it’s been an awful offense based on talent on this team. What may be worse regarding Slowik is he makes no adjustments from first half to second half. This offense is literally unwatchable
You can't get around a bad ol. Hopefully Kendrick will claim the rg spot and not only Nico comes back and Caserio gets another wr. The team will be fine but Caserio needs to make a couple of moves if they truly want to be contenders.

I just hope Stroud takes time off to get his body and mind right. Although the ol sucked there were plays to be there.
 
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