Got a question about the Texans?
Life in general?
Drew Dougherty's your guy.
He's been with the Texans since 2009 and is chock full of meaningful, as well as generally useless, information. Fire away by clicking HERE.
Donnie Eason: Dear Drew, How's it looking with Juice Scruggs and C.J. Stroud? I know Scruggs spent most of his time at guard last year. The QB-Center relationship is important.
DD: Excellent question, Donnie, and you're absolutely correct: that relationship is often overlooked but indeed vital. As for the relationship, it's looked good so far in camp and they've also put in plenty of extra work with each after practices.
There are many reasons the Texans used a second-round pick on Scruggs just over a year ago, and he looks like he's clicking well with Stroud.
Ryan Iparrea: Dear Drew, Are there any notable players on the IL (injury list)? Thank you, Ryan Iparrea, 7 years old/2nd grade. Let's go TEXANS!
DD: Thanks for the question, Ryan. As of Wednesday morning, fullback Andrew Beck, linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips and cornerback D'Angelo Ross were on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, while defensive end Dylan Horton was on the Non-Football Illness list.
A handful of players have missed some or all of the practices in camp thus far, but they're expected to be ready to play in Week 1.
Tammy Jackson: Dear Drew, Do you think there is any other player to acquire before the season begins that will be a final chess piece in the improvement of the team?
DD: I don't.
I think there are a few difference-makers available, but I wouldn't label any of them as "final chess piece" type of players.
Executive Vice President/General Manager Nick Caserio and company will continue to make changes throughout camp, and they're always looking to field the best team possible.
Armani Garcia: Dear Drew, Of all your years of covering the Texans what stands out to you the most about this team so far?
DD: The expectations, externally and internally, and the chance to meet or exceed them.
This team is clearly on the way up.
I got here at the end of the 2009 training camp, and this year feels like the camps of 2012 and 2013, but different. Those camps were also filled with high expectations, but those camps had Matt Schaub at quarterback and this one has Stroud.
Schaub was a really good NFL quarterback. Schaub was a Pro Bowler. But in 2012, he was returning from a foot injury, so there were questions about how he'd look in his return. The Texans stumbled in the months of December and January of the 2012 season, so there were questions in the 2013 camp about taking a next step. The ensuing regular season was a disaster, as Houston lost 14 straight to close the year.
Stroud, meanwhile, is coming off a rookie season in which he was named a team captain, made right decision after right decision, was lethal on deep balls and won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Plus, his coordinator and quarterbacks coach are both back, which is a plus. We don't know yet what Stroud's ceiling will be.
2024 reminds me of those two camps, but with more promise.
Bacari Walker: Dear Drew, Would prime Andre Johnson have better numbers with the qbs he played with, or with C.J. Stroud?
DD: He would've lit it up with Stroud.
BUT…who are his teammates? Are you throwing him in there with Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell and the rest of that crew? If so, how does Stroud spread the love?
But this is a similar style of offense to the one Johnson flourished in for the latter chunk of his Texans career. He almost always seemed to get WIDE open a few times per game, even when everyone knew he was the best player on the field and necessitated extra attention.
Either way, Johnson would ring up great numbers with Stroud.
