"When you're hot, you're hot. When you're not, you're not" -- Jerry Reed Cleveland D was on the downslope past few weeks but they were #1 for a while, and I have no idea whatsoever what to expect from the Ravens.
I also think the Browns came in cocky AF thinking they would dominate because of the first go round. They had no idea what to do when they got smashed by that Texans truck. The Texans had an answer for everything.
I thought he schemed Keenum well in the Tennessee game; honestly, the decision to start him - and not Mills - was the big problem there. Fans think they know more than they do because all they see is the result of a play. If he's getting interest from literally every team with a HC opening, it's clear he's very highly-regarded among NFL people. Yes, some of that is leaning on Stroud. But look around Stroud: Collins has emerged as a top 10 WR; Dell was on his way to a breakout rookie season; Singletary is running like a top 5 RB; he has worked around continuous injuries on the OL... And, again - I will never pretend to know what's what and who's who - but, man, the # of throws CJ makes where WRs are wide open..... it happens *a lot* and that is scheme. He absolutely worked the Browns over, and many consider Jim Schwartz 1 of the greatest defensive coaches in NFL history. He's had a terrific year as an OC.
Slowik has definitely grown as an OC, and it seemed he had dived deep into his creative mind and had great gameplans these last few weeks. Hope he continues it this weekend and CJ continues to throw amazing passes. Opportunities like these are rare, and even if it was suppose to be a foundation year, since we're here why not go for broke? The future is always unknown.
People bagging on Slowik early needed to let things ride a bit. You don’t know what you have out there until you see guys perform. Hell, Pierce came in as the feature back, the O-Line was in shambles from the jump. You had no idea what CJ could or could not handle. Not sure anyone expected Tank to do Tank things. Fans expected too much too quickly. Slowik seems to be able to game plan with what he has now better because, well, he knows what he has.
I heard Seth Payne mention this... most of the Texans good players are both young and they've experienced bad coaching prior to this year. So the coaching staff has moved slower because young players/rookies can get REALLY confused if you throw too much at them. He specifically mentioned the video going around of Ryans telling Harris where to go for the pick-6 - he offers that might've been too much earlier because these guys have, like, eight dozen assignments and reads and if this guy does this, then I do that.... He thinks the defense's progression is tied to DeMeco having more opportunities to really roll up his sleeves and *coach.* So, yeah - they were more vanilla early. But once they figured out Stroud was advanced by any and all expectations, and once they developed trust in the offense around him knowing their assignments, etc., the game plan evolved.
Think we are seeing the collective idea that Slowik has improved and its due or die time. I just ask that Slowik does one thing which is the same as last week. I want us to win or die because of CJ. Arguably, CJ hasn't lost us a game all year when he has been allowed to sling it.
I felt that Jacksonville home game, CJ was try to play hero ball a a little too much holding onto it too much through the game…. I wouldn’t put the lost on him.
Yeah, I was at that game, and tried to do too much, especially on a drive they were 3rd and 1, and 4th and 1, and Stroud both times tried to throw a 20 yard pass, and also the last drive, Stroud took 2 sacks because he held the ball too long, that made the FG more difficult, but also because of Stroud, they almost won the game.
After watching JT O'Sullivans' QB analysis of CJ Stroud against the Browns, I got more impressed with what Slowik was doing. There were multiple plays where several Texans WR were open. CJ could have picked from 3 options, all of which would have been completions. We've never had a OC capable of scheming guys open before Slowik came around, and he absolutely killed the Browns Saturday.
Yep. If there's a compilation of CJ highlights from the year, take note of how often he's throwing to a clean WR. The one that immediately jumps to mind is the TD to Beck - I'm not sure I've ever seen a WR *that* open... well, yes - the Packer TE this past weekend - but prior to that? And it was on the goal line, where it's nearly impossible to have some *schemed* that wide open. I'm telling you: fans judge an offense solely by its black-and-white results. But coaches and front offices see beyond that. It isn't an accident CJ Stroud is having the greatest rookie season of all-time. Yes, he's very good. But he is also in a system that is making it easy for him. There's a reason literally every team with a coaching vacancy wants to talk to him.
He's prob going to do 2nd interviews immediately if the Texans lose this Saturday. Hope Johnson is ready to take over OC...or they find someone (K. Kubiak?) to take over.
