Here is everythingHouston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said ahead of Houston’s Week 4 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, including the possibility of wide receiver Nico Collins coming back for this game, his thoughts on the Dallas defense and how the offense can generate more explosive plays.
Question: On the potential of WR Nico Collins being active for Week 4
C.J. Stroud: "I think getting Nico back is going to be helpful. I think just using our guys that we have the right way. I think just being explosive with the ball in your hands. If that's running the ball, if that's getting a short pass and making RAC or YAC, whatever you want to call it. Just making sure that when we get the ball in our hands, we're making plays and it's my job to distribute
it."
Q: On developing as a quarterback between drives while on the sideline
Stroud: "I always communicate with the coaches and try to tell them what I see and what I feel or what I want to call. I let them handle that from there and it's up to them to call it or don't. I feel like I've been pretty communicative of just what I would like, what I wouldn't like, or what I feel like is going on in the game. We have a good communication system, I believe. I just try to give them things that they would want to hear and from there just go on."
Q: On getting better at protecting the football
Stroud: "I think it's important to take care of the ball and keep the team on the field as much as you can. I think there's also a balance of taking risk, but there has to be a controlled aggression. I think we can definitely be both sides. You can be super conservative with the ball, not take any risk, or you can take a lot of risk and just be careless, which I don't think is smart either. You have to be somewhere in the middle."
Q: On the Cowboys defense
Stroud: "I think it starts with their defensive tackles up front. They're really strong and stout. I think Rashan Gary is a heck of a player. He's been playing a lot of high-level ball for a long time. I think they're a little banged up on the back end, but they move around. They play top down. They really don't give up a lot of super big plays. They definitely got some younger guys in there, but I think they all can play. I think DaRon Bland is a great player. I think Caleb Downs is a dog. He's a great player as well. They have some good players over there. Just have to make sure that we're doing our job."
Q: On the versatility of WR Nico Collins
Stroud: "He's very helpful. He's a heck of a talent. He's a household name. He's earned his respect in this league and he was missed. Now to have him back would be very helpful. But he can do everything that we ask him to do."
Q: On if there is an increased sense of urgency on offense
Stroud: "You could say that. I would say I think the fourth quarter production that we saw this last game, we can do it in the first and second quarter. We have to be wanting to do it. We've had those conversations and I think we're doing a better job now and will do a better job at that. I'm a firm component, just being aggressive, trying to stay ahead of the sticks. Even if that's checking a ball down for three, four yards, you're still ahead of the sticks. You're still moving the ball forward on first, second and that's everybody's goal. I think the more we can do that, the more we'll have positive drives. I believe you need explosives. Sustaining drives for 15-plus plays is really tough in the NFL. I think the more explosives that we can obtain, the pushes down the field a little more, the more aggressive we can be in. We're all a part of it. We all can execute the plays better, we can call better, we can do everything better and I think we'll do that."
Q: On finding an identity on offense
Stroud: "We've seen what we can be in Week 1. Not having some guys out there for Week 2, we definitely felt their presence being gone. I think we're still finding our identity. I think that's just the NFL. Every team is finding our identity from Week 1 to Week 6, trying to see what they can do, what they can't do. I think we're all trying to do that. I think [Offensive Coordinator Nick] Caley is warming up. He's doing everything he can to make sure that we're getting our jobs done. We can help him out too, by running the ball better, being better on first and second down. It's not just all on him, it's on us as well. I think we'll all do our job better and be better."
Q: On G Ed Ingram potentially being active for Week 4
Stroud: "It's big time. He's a force to be reckoned with. He's gotten better at pass protection. I think he's doing great in the run game, communicating better. I think he's taking a step in this system. He's a baller and I'm glad he's on my team."
Q: On if the 31-point performance in Week 1 from the offense felt sustainable
Stroud: "Yeah, I think so. We had the conversations on just making sure that we're trying to not just harp on last week's success, but trying to build new. That's my big thing with life in general, is you can't harp on or you can't remember all the successes and all the failures. You have to learn to let it go. I think we've been able to do that. So of course, getting him back will be helpful, including with Ed. It'll definitely help."
Q: On generating more explosive plays on offense
Stroud: "Just being able to get time in the pocket. I think that offensive line did a great job in pass protection. Receivers were detailed in the routes and then we called it. We were able to see what we can do when we did push it down the field. The more we can show that we can uphold and protection and I can make the right decision with the ball, I think the more that we'll do it. When you can be able to be explosive, you're able to be not just one-dimensional, you're able to spread it around and do different things. It doesn't just have to be a drop-back pass."
Q: On being more comfortable and confident within the offense
Stroud: "All those things are true. I'm more comfortable, I'm more confident in what I'm doing. I'm putting the protections the right way and trying to get us in the right looks. Sometimes they get you, they're in the NFL too, the other teams and they get paid a lot of money to play games too and do a good job by switching their calls up. You're not always going to be 100%, but it's a confidence that you have to have while making those checks and those alerts and all those things just to make sure you're putting your guys in the right position to win. I'm getting better at it."
Q: On RB Woody Marks as a receiver in the backfield
Stroud: "He can do a good job. He's had a lot of production in college doing it last year for us, a little bit in two-minute for us a couple weeks ago. The more that he can be out there for us and experience some of those check downs or if he is in the past concept, just getting his right depth. Even if he's filling it to sit down quicker or to just do what's right for the play, the more that he'll get those touches. He's amazing. Toting the ball well, he's pass protecting well, he's catching it great. The more we just get time on task, I think it'll be better."
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans QB C.J. Stroud said ahead of Week 4 vs the Cowboys
