The Detroit Lions have revamped their public image considerably in the last few years. From the moment Dan Campbell was named the new head coach in January 2021, the atmosphere was “completely changed.” He began his tenure with the Lions by publicly calling for kneecap biting, signaling to the players and anyone who would listen that this was not the Lions they were before. This was a new era for Detroit football, an era that was unwilling to accept its fate of being the laughing stock of NFL fans around the league every time it took to the field.
The Houston Texans have undergone a similarly massive makeover in recent years, weathering the storm of Deshaun Watson’s sexual assault allegations and seizing the opportunity to erase a huge, painful stain on the franchise by squeezing a clean sheet out of the Cleveland Browns in what may go down as the worst trade in NFL history.
Suddenly, in one fell swoop, the Texans felt like they had a fresh start with former Houston All-Pro DeMeco Ryans as their head coach (similar to what the Lions did with Campbell during his playing days in Detroit). They revolutionized their offense with a new franchise quarterback, C.J. Stroud, providing him with a group of playmakers ideal for future success. The team bought in, and suddenly, so did the public. Just as the Lions had done the year before, the Texans captured the hearts of football fans around the world with a complete makeover and a franchise favorite.
What makes this Texans team so well-liked?
It starts from the top.
DeMeco Ryans makes me want to run through a brick wall.
Look up the word “leader” in the dictionary and you might find a picture of Dan Campbell. You might also find a picture of Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who is quickly developing a reputation as a complete players’ coach.
Gone are the days of ruling with an iron fist. Ryans conjures up an atmosphere of democracy in the locker room – one built on a foundation of respect, relationships and connection. Want to get the best out of those around you? The Ryans approach is a great place to start.
“To be a good coach, you have to connect with your players, and they feel like I have their best interests at heart. That’s all I care about,” DeMeco Ryans said.
Great leaders care about you.
• Build relationships.
• They communicate.
• Invest your time. pic.twitter.com/bqldrsGpDM— Coach AJ Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) April 25, 2024
It doesn’t hurt that he gives some crazy locker room speeches either.
CJ Stroud’s likeability is causing a chemical change in my brain.
Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, Texans quarterback CJ Stroud appeared on “The Edge with Micah Parsons” podcast. During the appearance, Stroud and Parsons each demonstrated their ideal offense and defense, then debated who would win on a game-deciding fourth-and-three at the 20-yard line.
By the way, I plan on joining Stroud’s attacking line.
Stroud’s handshake game? It’s totally free too.
My new barometer for gauging the tone of future NFL offenses will be the number of unique handshakes quarterbacks share with their playmakers.
By my totally official but unofficial measurements, CJ Stroud leads the league in this category, congratulations!
Establishing a top-five offensive force
Here’s a quick look at the Texans’ offense as they approach the 2024 season. They have 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year CJ Stroud at quarterback and former Bills receiver Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins signs new extension They added second-year receiver Tank Dell and a former Bengal running back, Joe Mixon, to significantly improve their running back position. Re-signed free agent tight end Dalton Schultz They signed him to a three-year, $36 million contract and also drafted Ohio State tight end Cade Stover, who went 36-406-5 with Stroud as quarterback in 2022.
Oh, and the Texans offensive line has battled injuries throughout the 2023 season, but with LT Laremy Tunsil anchoring the blind side, they could be a top-10 contender when healthy.
As if that wasn’t already abundantly clear, this offense will score a lot of points, which is a huge plus for any fantasy manager both in terms of entertainment and fantasy football points.
There will also be plenty to see of the Texans: They’ll play in the NFL Hall of Fame preseason game to kick off the 2024 preseason, then four primetime games, a national TV spot against the Chiefs in Week 16 and on Christmas Day.
