Convenience Big Store: The keys to Texans' offense making a jump

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Texans' success dependent on C.J. Stroud, Nick Caley and offensive line

Happy Monday, everyone.

This is the rough part of the sports calendar, perhaps its quietest. The NBA Finals has wrapped up, as have the Stanley Cup Final, College World Series and Women's College World Series.

And no football.

The Texans return for training camp July 23, one day after rookies and veterans report, in what will be the start of a pivotal season for DeMeco Ryans and his team.

The Texans are entering the third year of the Ryans era after making major changes on offense this offseason.

They changed their offensive coordinator, their offensive line coach, added some receivers in the draft and reconstructed their offensive line, hoping it will help aid C.J. Stroud in his quest to return as one of the NFL's most feared quarterbacks.

If Stroud has success, then this team will.

But the first step is making sure he's protected, which new offensive coordinator Nick Caley is tasked with doing. It was wild to think about how bad the offensive line was last season. They gave up the third-most sacks in the league, and had Stroud constantly on the run.

This year, things must be different.

Everyone in the building is confident Caley can make it happen.

"He's smart," offensive lineman Tytus Howard told me. "He brings a lot of energy. He believes in the offensive line. He knows how to help the offensive line get into a rhythm, so I feel that's a great thing to have in an offensive coordinator."

I chatted with Caley about Stroud, the offensive line, his first-time calling plays and more.

Check out my conversation with Caley here.

Jonathan M. Alexander, Texans beat reporter

jonathan.alexander@houstonchronicle.com

Attended a game at the Astrodome?

Former Astros replacement players were treated to a barbecue dinner from owner Drayton McLane in the Astrodome for their work during spring training, April 4, 1995. The 32 players also received a videotape of their experience and a check for $10,000, which included their signing bonus plus an extra $5,000 bonus. The replacements finished with a 20-7 record and the best winning percentage before the Major League Baseball strike ended.

Photo by: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

So I'm working on a feature about the Astrodome, and I was wondering if you had any memories of attending a game or event inside the Dome. If you do, I want to hear it. Email me at jonathan.alexander@houstonchronicle.com. Thanks!

📬 JMA's Texans Mailbag

❓ Ask me anything! Follow me on X, formerly known as "Twitter," submit your questions here or hit reply to this email to be a part of my next mailbag.

Houston Texans long snapper Jon Weeks takes a look at video of him snapping the ball before practice during an NFL training camp Monday, July 22, 2024, in Houston.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer

Q: Why is Jon Weeks no longer a Texan? — No name

JMA: A source close to Weeks told me that the Texans had been wanting to get younger at the position for years now.

By signing an undrafted rookie in Austin Brinkman, they can develop a younger player at a cheaper deal than re-signing Weeks, who was 39 and the oldest player on Houston's roster.

Weeks was a good player, a great example in the community and a great person. But the Texans opted to go in a cheaper and younger direction.

Our next mailbag will post July 2, but you can always email me your questions.

Texans Trivia!

Last week's question: What is C.J. Stroud's full name?

Last week's answer: Coleridge Bernard Stroud IV

Shoutout to Scott Lalonde for getting this week's question correct!

This week's question: NRG Stadium, opened in 2002, was the first NFL stadium to have this feature. What is the feature?

The first person to email me the correct answer gets a shoutout in the next newsletter.

Top Stories

Houston Texans offensive line coach Cole Popovich, left, runs his unit in blocking drills during OTAs at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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