Here is everything Houston Texans quarterbackC.J. Stroud said ahead of the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, including his excitement for the season to start, his relationship with new wide receiver Kayshon Boutte and his chemistry with star receiver Nico Collins.
Question: On his excitement for the season to begin
C.J. Stroud: "I'm very excited. You put in the work to give yourself a chance and then you got to go out there and perform. I'm excited to go out there with my guys and show the world what we've been working on."
Q: On the team's biggest area of growth throughout the offseason
Stroud: "I would say chemistry first. We've been able to be on the same page more. I think consistency, being consistent with good plays, moving forward,
not having as many negative plays and penalties. Those are probably the two main things that we've gotten better at and just communication as well."
Q: On his relationship with WR Kayshon Boutte
Stroud: "We've been working a lot. I've been a fan of his since he was in college. He's had a really good career so far in the NFL and I’m excited to have him and I think he just adds to our room. I've been able to work with him during practice and after as well, so just building that chemistry."
Q: On the chemistry building between him and a young left side of the offensive line
Stroud: "You have to communicate with them. Show them what you want, tell them what you want and then let them go play, let them be themselves. They're two talented guys and are early draft picks for us the last two years. They're very talented and now it's just finding their rhythm. It's not overnight, but I think those guys definitely had great challenges in camp going against our defense. Every game you're playing against great players. Those guys, they're two dogs, so I'm excited to see them go."
Q: On how eager he is to get back on the field
Stroud: "I'm excited. It's our first one, our first game being at home, so it'll be fun."
Q: On any advice for young rookies playing in their first career NFL game
Stroud: "Football is football at the end of the day. You can't really focus on the crowd or what's going on anymore. Just try to do your job every play. That's my advice. Be yourself, find your rhythm and then roll. I think those guys will be good at that."
Q: On his relationship with Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley
Stroud: "We've been able to communicate better and then just showing what I like, what I don't like and he does the same thing. We're just getting better, understanding where he's coming from more and he's doing the same for me."
Q: On the potential of the offense this season
Stroud: "We'll see. I think we put a lot of good things on tape during camp and our joint practices and in preseason. Now it's time to go out there and do it. I can't give you a firm answer on that, but I think it's one play at a time for us."
Q: On WR Jaylin Noel
Stroud: "He brings explosiveness. I think he's polished his intermediate to short-game routes. His growth has been amazing just to see him grow to be smarter with leverages and winning against tough leverages and coverages that aren't ideal and short-to-intermediate areas. He's grown a lot."
Q: On going into the second season under Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley's offense
Stroud: "It's huge. It's not easy first year in any system in any predicament. Every game finding new things, every practice finding new things and working things out. I think now we kind of have a good grip on what we want to do, what our identity's going to be and that'll change. It's not always going to be exactly what you want, but I think the foundation we built with this second year in the system has been really good."
Q: On his approach to his contract situation
Stroud: "I'm focused on football. Let my team and my agent handle that. My job is to play football and that's what I'll do."
Q: On getting to know his teammates more during the offseason
Stroud: "Everybody's different. That’s what I think is beautiful about this sport, you have a lot of different people, different backgrounds, different areas all coming together for a common goal. Every team is different every year, so I'm grateful to have all the teammates I do have and I was able to make some great connections with some guys."
Q: On the Buffalo Bills' defense
Stroud: "They're good. They have really good players all around. They look like they're healthy. They have some guys on the back and they brought in, so I think they're very talented. They have a new head coach. Their defense is really solid, so you don't really know exactly what they're going to do. You have to be prepared as best you can for whatever it's going to look like. I think more than anything, they're very talented."
Q: On going against Bills QB Josh Allen and Bengals QB Joe Burrow in the next couple of weeks
Stroud: "My focus is on my team and their defenses. I definitely just focus on that and try my best. Stay focused on my job."
Q: On his chemistry with WR Nico Collins
Stroud: "It's been great. I've been working with him, talking to him, trying to get him to grow. He's trying to get me to grow. Every day pushing each other to be better."
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans QB C.J. Stroud said ahead of Houston’s season opener vs. Bills
