The first year of the DeMeco Ryans era with the Texans officially begins this week, and with it a new NFL season.
vacation is over. There are no more free weeks, except for the open house week. Newcomers and veterans will officially report to training camp on Tuesday, with their first practice session on Wednesday.
Here are 11 pressing questions as the Texans get to camp:
As the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, Ryans directed defense plays. As the Texans head coach, he’s more of a supervisor than the everyday guy he was in San Francisco.
This offseason, he’s debated whether to call the plays or have defensive coordinator Matt Burke call them. That requires a certain amount of trust in his first year.
As Ryan’s final season in San Francisco dictated plays, the 49ers finished the second most takeaways (30) and conceded the fewest yards (300.6) and points per game (16.3). It is not uncommon for coaches to announce moves. Lovie Smith was the Texans’ defensive end last year.
Burke was the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator from 2017-2018. Ryans has said he would be confident if Burke called the plays.
Will Kenyon Green be ready?
The sophomore guard missed the entire season break after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. The Texans have invested heavily in the former 2022 first-round pick. Last season there were moments when he looked good and moments when he struggled. The fact that he missed the entire offseason doesn’t bode well.
The Texans are hoping Shaq Mason will be a good influence. They joined Mason this season off, extending his contract by three years and $36 million.
Green must have a better year.
What is the tight end depth?
The Texans have signed former cowboy Dalton Schultz as a free agent. It was a good move for a side hungry for close possession. But behind Schultz, the Texans don’t have much depth in the form of the production.
Teagan Quitoriano and Brevin Jordan combined for just 21 catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. Both are young so they could improve.
But the Texans should consider adding more competition at training camp.
Who will be the middle linebacker?
Christian Kirksey or Denzel Perryman? That is the question.
After a season in which the Texans finished last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed, the Texans went out and signed Perryman, considered one of the NFL’s best run stoppers. In 2021, he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time.
However, the Texans have a choice to make. Downsizing Kirksey could save them $5.2 million in cap space. Or they could keep him and put him or Perryman in the role of an outside linebacker and both start. Kirksey’s whereabouts would give the Texans insurance for Perryman, who has not played a full season in eight years due to injuries.
Are there enough wide receivers?
The Texans have added Noah Brown and Robert Woods to free agency and expect to win back John Metchie III, who was absent last season after being diagnosed with leukemia. They also drafted former UH receiver Tank Dell in the third round.
But do the Texans have enough receiving talent to make a jump? That was one of their problems in 2022.
Your top receiver from last season, Brandin Cooks, has been traded leaving someone else to step in. Will it be Nico Collins? The most important thing for Collins is to make sure he’s healthy. He has missed games in each of his first two seasons, including seven in 2022.
Collins had 37 catches for 481 yards in 10 games last season.
“Being there for the team, playing the ball, making plays,” Collins said when asked what he’s capable of while staying healthy. “That’s definitely my goal. That is the goal of everyone: to stay healthy for 17 years.”
Steven Nelson getting a new contract?
The veteran cornerback, 30, wants a new contract. He fired his longtime agent and recently hired David Mulugheta. Nelson has been vocal about his displeasure on social media, posting memes that appear to be critical of general manager Nick Caserio.
Nelson did not participate in voluntary OTAs but did attend the mandatory mini-camp. He has not spoken to the media this offseason.
It’s unclear how the Texans will handle Nelson’s situation and whether they want to sign him for a longer contract or let him expire.
They’re deep in the roster as a cornerback, especially after signing Shaquill Griffin as free agency to join forces with Derek Stingley, Desmond King, Tavierre Thomas and Nelson. The Texans are also reportedly coaching veteran cornerback Ronald Darby.
Nelson, who played 16 of 17 games in 2022, is in the final season of a two-year, $9 million contract. His $4.5 million average ranks 39th among NFL corners.
Why isn’t CJ Stroud signed?
Stroud is the only Texas rookie not to sign his rookie contract. And unlike minicamps and OTAs, CBA rules don’t allow newcomers to attend camp until their contracts are complete. Stroud is one of seven NFL rookies drafted in the first round who have not signed their contracts. The others include Anthony Richardson and Devon Witherspoon.
The first round contract bonus, total value, and guarantee are already set aside for draft picks, but agents can still negotiate when a player will receive their contract bonuses. That’s what’s probably holding things up.
Last season, Stingley was paid 80 percent of his contract bonus within 15 days of signing. The other 20 percent was paid on or before December 15, according to a source.
Both sides would like to reach an agreement before the start of the training camp. According to Spotrac, Stroud’s deal is said to be a four-year, $36.279 million contract with a $23.38 million signing bonus. He is expected to hit a $6.6 million salary cap for the 2023 season.
The Texans freshmen are expected to arrive Tuesday, the same day as the veterans. The first training starts on Wednesday. A deal could happen at any time.
Will Stroud be the starter?
The rookie quarterback will go into camp tied with Davis Mills for the starting spot. The expectation is that Stroud will win.
He was impressive at minicamp and OTAs. His teammates were impressed with his leadership and preparation. They say he plays confidently. Stroud recently hosted receivers and tight ends in California for a throwing session. They got to know each other better and worked on their timing.
The biggest question is how soon the Texans would name Stroud the starter. You want him to deserve the job. Stroud wants to earn it too.
The first few pre-season games will probably decide a lot. But the sooner his teammates know and he snaps most first-team snaps, the better. It’s up to Stroud to set himself apart from Mills.
Who starts in the middle?
The Texans drafted their future center, Juice Scruggs, in the second round of the 2023 draft.
He will battle for a starting position with the experienced Scott Quessenberry, who started all but one game last season after Justin Britt took a leave of absence.
Quessenberry took the most first-team snaps at minicamp. That doesn’t mean he’ll be in the starting XI, but it seems that trend has started before the break.
Can Scruggs outrun him?
What will Bobby Slowik’s offensive look like?
It’s going to be very similar to what the 49ers are doing. A lot of power when running and playful passes.
Slowik learned his offensive philosophy from mentor Mike Shanahan and through working with Shanahan’s son Kyle. But Slowik will have its own twist.
As Collins described it, “I feel like this offense gives everyone an opportunity to touch the ball and make plays. When your number is called, make a game. You know, Coach Bobby, he tells us, “If you’ve got the ball in your hands, go score.”
We probably won’t know the depth of the plan until we practice alongside the Dolphins and Saints.
How good can the line of defense be?
The Texans rushed for 2,894 yards in 17 games last season. It was the sixth-most allowed rushing yards in NFL history.
One of Ryans’ top priorities was strengthening the defensive line. He did.
The Texans gave up a lot to pick Will Anderson Jr. as the No. 3 draft pick, but he could be an immediate starter and hitter. They also signed defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, renewed defensive tackle Malik Collins and added a few more plays for depth.
With Jerry Hughes back and a healthy Jonathan Greenard, the Texans are a lot better this year than they were last year. How much better remains to be seen.
