Houston Texans' Pricey Offensive Line Is Making QB CJ Stroud A Star
The Texans made easy work of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday to the tune of a 30-6 win at NRG Stadium in Houston. It was a day reminiscent for Steelers fans of the 2002 24-6 loss to the expansion Texans, and it stings just as badly.
There's a star in the making in South Texas in rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. And while the Houston defense got a lot of the attention on Sunday - and rightfully so - let's not forget the guys up front who enabled Stroud to have the day he did.
Oh, the day for Stroud, incidentally, included 306 yards and two touchdowns on 16 of 30 passing, while playing a clean game with no interceptions - for his young career. The former Buckeye has thrown for 1,212 yards and six touchdowns this season with a goose egg in the interceptions column. Stroud's 1,212 yards is second only to Cam Newton's 1,386 through four games in Carolina in 2011.
Texans' QB C.J. Stroud attempts a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers on 10/1/23.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
“For me, it's just the beginning,” Stroud said. “Y’all deserve to feel special,” he said of the fans. “Y’all deserve to root the Texans on. Not winning (at home) since 2021, that ain’t flying with anybody in this building.”
Houston general manager Nick Caserio knew the importance of protecting the team's investment at quarterback and paid special attention to improving the offensive line in the offseason.
In March, Caserio traded for Bucs right guard Shaq Mason, then extended left tackle Laremy Tunsil, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. A month later, Caserio moved up in the 2023 NFL Draft to take Penn State center Juice Scruggs.
“If you want to be a great offense, you got to have a great protector at the left tackle position," coach DeMeco Ryans said, “and that's what Laremy provides for us." But Caserio wasn't done yet. In the month following the draft, Caserio extended Mason and right tackle Tytus Howerd.
Caserio has committed $118.5 million in extensions on the offensive line to protect Stroud, in addition to trading three picks to move up and select Scruggs. Caserio was determined to keep Stroud safe in 2023, hoping to bolster his chance at success, which will in turn, has helped the Texans improve on their 3-13-1 record from a season ago.
"The offensive line is important, no matter who is playing at quarterback," Ryans said in the offseason. "... You want to make sure he has great protection up front. It will always be a high priority to me amongst the offensive and defensive line because I feel like that’s how you win games. It starts up front, and that will never change. Try to go out with a subpar [offensive] line or a subpar [defensive] line, you’re going to be in for a long day. So, it will always start there for me."
