Here is everything Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said Sunday afternoon after the Texans' 19-17 lossto the Indianapolis Colts, including his thoughts on the offense, the 0-3 start, and where the team can go from here.
Question: Generating explosive plays and the final touchdown drive.
C.J. Stroud: “Well, I think we had an explosive. So, I think like that's something that we're lacking right now is just explosives, and too many three-and-outs. But I think that was key in that drive. Hutch (Xavier Hutchinson) made a heck of a grab. (Kayshon) Boutte had a great catch, two of them, and we ran the ball well. So, we’ve got to find a way to generate more explosives, I believe.”
Q: It's hard for you to answer this question like right after game,
but what do you think is making it so difficult to generate those?
Stroud: “Honestly, it could be a Rolodex of things. I can't really pinpoint it. I’ve got to watch the tape, but I just think we’ve got to be aggressive. We can't just wait to the end. But I believe that we can – if we find ways to generate more explosives and flip the field or just find points, like those are the type of games that we need to win. But you know, I thought we fought. But at the same time, I think there's a lot of things that need to be fixed.”
Q: What's kind of that balance between almost having a moral victory versus dealing with the reality that you guys did fight, but you guys didn’t win?
Stroud: “Yeah, it's no excuses. In this league, no one cares about what happened. They just want to see if you won or lost. So at the end of the day, we know who we are in our locker room. We know we will hear noise all week and how who's that, and what's this, and this needs to change. But at the end of the day, it's us in the locker room. At the end of the day, I think our mindset was great all week. We had a great week of practice, but I think the production just has to go up. We have to just give ourselves a shot. I thought our defense did great, and at the end of the game, they gave us a chance. We can't come out –that's the second time I believe coming out of half, just not great. I think our third time now, third quarter just not going the way it needs to go. So, I believe. We've been here before. We can get these fixed and we will.”
Q: What was the mindset and the thought when Will Anderson Jr. gave the team a chance?
“Yeah, he’s a baller bro. Like the dude is legit. He came in the locker room during halftime and told us, 'Whatever we got to do man, do it.’ And he was the person to kick it off. And then from there, we started moving the ball. Had that touchdown drive, but just I think we just got to finish better. But I think he set the tone. Offensively, we’ve got to follow that motto. Just like we can't just play conservative. We’ve got to be aggressive and attack, and not be the attacked. So, I think we'll look at it and be better.”
Q: What was DeMeco Ryans’ message to the team after the game?
Stroud: “Just told us to stay together. Not to listen to the noise, and everybody's going to tell us who and what we are, but it's up to us to stay together. We've been here before, so we know we can get this thing turned around, but it's going to be up to us.”
Q: You said you guys will be able to get it fixed. What specifically have you seen that gives you the confidence to feel that you guys will be able to get it fixed? You guys have the pieces.
Stroud: “Yeah, I think the pieces, of course. Like we're making plays, but it's – we’re getting guys back from injury.I think that'll help, but I also think just like the fight that I see with our team. I believe we're not far, but also it doesn't feel that way because we're 0-3. But I think for me, I have the utmost confidence. You can call me crazy. I don't really care. But we've been here before, and I think this is sadly something that we can learn from what we did in the past and do even better than last time. That'll be the goal.”
Q: The tight end room is really producing. What do you like about that room?
Stroud: “Yeah, they're doing a great job communicating, giving us a chance in the run game, but also being options in the pass game. So, I think that we'll be able to use them more and more as we continue to go, but they're doing a great job I believe as a whole – just the whole room is doing good.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans QB C.J. Stroud said following Week 3 loss to Colts
