Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Houston Texans CJ Stroud STRUGGLES Lead to Offensive Changes, O-Line Issues & Texas-Sized Step Back

Episode Date: June 25, 2025

The Houston Texans have run the AFC South for two seasons now led by CJ Stroud, but ask any Texans fan or anyone who watched that offense in 2024 and they will tell you that it was a struggle. We were given evidence the Texans felt the same when they moved on from offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and revamped their entire offensive line. Will those changes work? John Hickman from Locked On Texans joins the show to give us some boots-on-the-ground information and Tyler breaks down why Houston will have a good year in general, but will take a step back from where they were. Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitans TicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop/tictactitans-gear/C3AAPNWXSXA6SBYG3USV2I7R?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=asc Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitans Follow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPod Subscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videos Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!RugietHead to Rugiet.com/LOCKEDONNFLand use code LOCKEDONNFL to get 15% off today. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuelRight now, new customers can get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Houston Texans have run the AFC South for a couple seasons, but I see a step back coming in 2025. I'll explain why on today's edition of Locked on Titans. Titans podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked On Titans podcast. I am your host Tyler Roland, Titans fans. It is time for our second division rival deep dive as part of divisional rival week. Can't wait to talk about what the Houston Texans have done, adding players, losing players, changing coaches. We're going to hear from John Hickman from Locked On Texans. And I'm going to tell you why I do think the Texans take a small step back in 2025.

Before we get into all of it though, do want to thank you for making Locked On Titans your first listen each and every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content, all year round, always for free. You're not gonna beat that anywhere else. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day. Speaking of every day, shout out to my every dayers out there tuning in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys.

If you aren't an every dayer, you need to be one. It may be summer break for the Titans, but there is no summer break for Locked on Titans. There is no off season for Locked on Titans. It's five days a week, all year round, never slowing down. So make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It is your team every day here on the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland. 25 years as a Tennessee Titans fanatic. I've covered the team for USA Today, Sports Illustrated hosted the number one Tennessee Titans podcast, Locked on Titans for six seasons. But with

that being said, the Houston Texans again have led the division for two years now. All right. They've got playoff wins in two straight seasons. That is, that is pretty solid work. It's hard to look down your nose at that sort of activity. I would love for the Tennessee Titans to be back in that situation once again. Now, here's the reality though. It wasn't all pretty for the Texans last year. And quite honestly, you talk to some Texans fans and some people around the team, they would tell you that, you know, the vibes were not great last year,

even though they won a playoff game and they won the division and all that, it felt like they weren't living up to their potential and they knew it. So this year, they make massive changes on the offensive side of the ball and quite frankly, it's all in an effort, I think, to get CJ Stroud back on track. Stroud looked absolutely fantastic, Bonafide top 10 quarterback, his rookie season looked awesome. But Stroud took a major step back last year. And having Nico Collins injured and the injuries to the wide receiver and all of that, you know, that mattered. All right, the offensive line wasn't great.

And clearly, they had some issues with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who was let go after getting head coaching interviews just a year before that. Now he's gone. They're getting a new offensive coordinator. So although things seem on paper, back-to-back playoff wins, back-to-back division titles, although things seem great, it's a lot of change for a team that on paper looks like they had good two years. Why are they making so many changes? And not only that, not only did they change their offensive coordinator, but look what they've done on the offensive line.

They traded away Laramie Tunsil, one of the top five left tackles. I'm sorry, but if the protection of your young quarterback is paramount, and your offensive line did not do that great last year, your answer to that is to trade away your top five left tackle. Bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for him. So they lose their offensive coordinator, Bobby Slowick. They let him go.

I say lose, but they got rid of him on purpose. They trade away Laramie Tunsel. They lose their two guards. Kenyon Green was terrible though. Shaq Mason didn't have a good year, but you know, Shaq Mason's okay. You lose to Fond Diggs as well, which I remember going back to last year after they traded for Stephon Diggs, I was like, man, when you redid his contract,

you really set yourself up to lose that second round pick for nothing. Now they still have a pretty good wide receiver group and we'll talk about that, but you know, they've made a lot of change and shook up a lot of things on their offensive line and I don't necessarily know if you know they fixed anything and we'll talk about that when I tell you what I think they're going to do this season again I think they take a small step back but they did add talent as the Texans have done they add CJ Gardner Johnson he's a tad unreliable and will he stay healthy this year? The Eagles didn't bet on it. If the Eagles couldn't wait to get rid of him,

I don't know. I don't know. They trade for Christian Kirk, has also had his own health issues but seems healthy now, seems like a good fit for them. They bring in Cam Robinson to be their left tackle who, remember Cam Robinson got traded from Jacksonville to Minnesota after the Christian Darasaw injury last year and Cam Robinson was bad. So you go from Laramie Tunzel to Cam Robinson at left tackle and even if your young drafted guy they draft Ariante Ursery offensive tackle out of Minnesota in the second round, second or third round. If he gets in the starting lineup, you think that's going to be anywhere close to Laramie Tunsel? Ursory is a project. So that doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

If I'm CJ Stroud, what are we doing there? They add Lincoln Tomlinson that should help at guard. They add Ed Ingram to compete at there? They add Lincoln Tomlinson that should help at guard. They add Ed Ingram to compete at guard. They had Trent Brown, the huge offensive tackle who flamed out in Cincinnati last year to add some depth maybe to the other offensive tackle spot where they're gonna have Blake Fisher, a second year player who's a mid-round rookie

out of Notre Dame in the 2024 draft. They had Daryl Taylor, who I think is a really good, solid rotational edge rusher, I think it could be like the new Yannick Ngocque, maybe not that good, but in that mold. Sheldon Rankins on the interior defensive line, they did bolster some areas. They bring in Nick Chubb.

Listen, he'll have an okay season, but Nick Chubb isn't the Nick Chubb that you're thinking when you hear his name. And they bring in Nick Haley to be the new offensive coordinator who has New England Patriots ties, which that organization, you know, with Nick Casario on down, a lot of Patriots ties. So, of course, they would do that. But I think the biggest question clearly is, is all of that change going to make CJ Stroud better? Is all of that change going to get CJ Stroud back right?

Because I think here's a reality. Here's a reality that Houston Texans fans will not want to hear. And that I've been, oh yeah right, you know way, blah blah blah. But, if CJ Stroud plays bad this season, looks bad again, like whoa, why did we think this guy was a top 10 player? This guy is a, you know, maybe top 20 player. If CJ Straub looks bad again, if the offensive line is significantly worse,

which in my opinion on paper, it looks like it is. If the offensive coordinator does not work out, Nick Kaley is not an improvement over Bobby Sloak. it looks like it is. If the offensive coordinator does not work out, Nick Kaylee is not an improvement over Bobby Slowick. Where do the Texans go? And what questions do they ask themselves? I think they ask themselves, man, the most important thing in our entire organization is CJ Stroud. And we know that he's capable of being a top 10 quarterback. So how do we get CJ Stroud to be a top 10 quarterback? Also, if you combine a potential step back record wise, the incentives of continuing down the path lessen.

So I'm just saying there could be a conversation after the season about what the best direction for the Texans is moving forward. And that could result in a potential hot seat situation for a coach that most people would say it's asinine to consider that he would be on the hot seat. But I'll save that full conversation for when I tell you what I think the Texans do this season. But ultimately, the change on offense and how much further they can go, can they take that next step and win a second playoff game? That'll be how the Texans are judged. And quite frankly, that's a very, very high bar to clear

for your season to be considered a success, which creates a big area of disappointment land. Like that makes disappointment land huge for the Texans. A lot of potential outcomes that could result in disappointment for their fan base and a small little tiny window for them to feel happiness. Tough spot to be in, but not everyone agrees with me. And I think John Hickman, my guy from Locked On Texans

may not fully agree with that assessment either. Let's get the inside scoop on the Houston Texans. Do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by Monarch Money. Ever check your bank account and wonder, well, where did all my money go? Between dining out, online shopping, entertainment. It's easy to lose track. That's where Monarch Money comes in. Your personal CFO giving you full

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Use the code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. That's monarchmoney.com code LOCKEDONNFL for half off your first year. All right. So continuing the division rival week here that I'm having on locked on Titans, my favorite part of every episode of the deep dive into a division rival is the crossover section. Of course we have John Hickman from locked on Texans on the show to break things down. John, obviously the Texans two years back to back, playoff wins. Things last year were weird, right? Because it didn't look as good, but yet the team still accomplished good goals than any team in the NFL would want. Just what's your general feel

about the team right now? Because they've been successful, but it it felt weird last year. This is the year Texans gotta get over the hump. They gave they gotta win a divisional playoff game this year. I think there's nowhere around it. We're honest about the AFC South. Our division isn't the strongest when we look around the landscape. So it does feel like any giving year any given season, we could see a team kind of swing it.

However, the Texans have positioned themselves to be the top dogs in the division. So the division isn't really like a worry right now, at least for me, I think every team has gotten better, but the coats, I think the Tennessee Titans have gotten a lot of better. They finally have a quarterback and I think that's gonna make a difference for you guys. I think Jacksonville will be in a better position. But for Houston, it is all about, especially when you look at some of the decisions

that were made in the off season, kicking it off with moving on from Bobby Sloak. They gotta be able to get to a divisional game and win a divisional game. That's been going on from Bobby or would you point to something else maybe as the biggest move of the all season for the team? I think it'll be 60-40 Bobby Sloak, Lamrie Tunsell. And with Bobby, you look at some of the things that really hurt the Houston Texans last year. The reports that right now we've heard coming out of the locker room, coming out of the facility is Bobby didn't take well to player involvement in terms of what the players wanted to do is more so trust the system. And that really hurt Houston. A lot of times the second half of games and you guys were able to sneak a dub against

Houston, Texas last year, right? So moving on from your offensive play caller who did win two playoff games with you. Right. That's major. But also moving on from perennial pro bowler, one of the best pass blocking left tackles any NFL in Larry Muto. So that's major because they didn't necessarily replace him. What a guy that you have the absolute trust will be able to feel the void of Larry Muto.

So Ken Robinson's here in Houston. Obviously, you know a lot about Ken Robinson as he played in Jacksonville. You've been covering Tennessee Titans for six years now. Six seasons. Yeah, this will be your six. It's crazy. And it's gracious, man.

We got, we got some grain growing in, but we know a lot about Ken Robinson. We know the highs, we know the lows. He's fitting. He's going to fit here in Houston, but he's no Leonard M. Thompson. So who's gonna, how will you protect your franchise quarterback in this blind side,

but also a first year play caller in Nick Caylee replacing Bobby Slaw. Those are the two major storylines. And ultimately those will be the two major reasons why we will see Houston rebound from a quote unquoteunquote disappointing sophomore year under Domingo Ryan's and CJ shroud or Not rebound have the same failures and we see CJ's trial get hit and sacked over 50 times So I have to lay this out, you know, everybody says oh the media they spend their narrows

Look, I don't know if I call myself the media, but I'm spinning the narrative. I have a question for you. So the issue with having a defensive-minded head coach is getting the offensive coordinator position right multiple times. It's not just once. You can't just get it right once, because you get it right,

that offensive coordinator is gonna get hired to be a head coach, and then you gotta get it right again. That's how the Eagles just won that Superbowl. Right. They get to the Superbowl with their coordinators. Both of them leave to be head coaches. They have a down year because they replaced them with bad replacements. And then once Sirianni gets the replacements right again as a CEO head coach who isn't a scheme Lord on either side, now they're ready to go succeed. Is there any worry in Houston that the ownership

group could look if you have another season, let's say the Texans win nine games and go to the playoffs, but lose in round one, you know, what seems like a step back? Is there any worry that or maybe you wouldn't be worried about it and would agree that maybe D'Amico Ryan's is on the hot seat, maybe not this year, but next year because he can't get CJ Stroud right, and that's the most important player in the franchise. No, I don't think it'll be D'Amico Ryan's let go. I think it'll be... We'll start to hear those chatters about Nick Cicero. And let me say something, because I don't want...

This will also air on Locked on Texans. I don't want people to confuse what I am saying Nick Casario has done a Phenomenal job of pulling this franchise out of the mud when Deshaun didn't want to play here anymore Like that was a huge story and I think the last two seasons for Houston Maybe some people locally or nationally have forgotten how bad the Houston Texans were for a few years So he's done a very good job of getting Houston out of that place bringing in CJ Stroud and we'll Anderson in the same draft Derek Singleton who's an all pro cornerback Nico collies who a lot of people feel like as a top 12 wide receiver in the NFL

Probably higher. He's not a very good job with that being said He has yet to be able to find real protection for the quarterback position Yeah, King greens in Philly and there was a report about a week and a half ago two weeks He got beat on 11 sec consecutive place Offensive line has not worked out for Nick Cicero You can also look at the moves that were recently made Nick Haley Cole Popovich they come from a New England background So if they struggle in 2025 and the offense doesn't take a step forward the office of line doesn't take a step forward

Then those ties I think can eventually come back to my knee because cereal So I don't think it'll be to me God think it'll be so Nick Casereo. This is year five on a six year contract that he signed. He has one year left. He used to look to move on if he does not. And if the moves don't pan out for him. Yeah, that's fair. You could say, hey, we have the right head coach. We just need more out of the roster on offense

to move forward. That's a way to look at it for sure. My last question for you really is this, what are your expectations for the Texans this year? And I mean, listen, we're going to have our division rival crossover before the season as we always do. But just right now where things are at moving forward, where do you think the Texans are going to be this year?

And do you think they take that step forward into the final eight teams in the NFL? Man, you know, Tyler, that's tough, man. Back to back division champs. They got a dub and wild card weekend, back to back years. And then back to back years, they either face the best team, they face Kansas City or Baltimore in the AFC. Yeah, LeBauer, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen.

Good luck. It's tough. I absolutely think the Houston Texans are the fourth best team right now in the AFC based off of how 2024 ended. You could say Baltimore, Buffalo, and Kansas City. For Houston, I do think realistically, it's just getting to an AFC championship game. I don't want to, I don't want to take a shot Superbowl.

I don't want to be unrealistic about it, but they got the quarterback to do it. I believe so they invested in their playmakers and I think that they've done a better job of raising the floor of the running back unit Nick Chubb is now here Houston of the wide receiver unit They brought in some vets and I have to rely on some of those younger receivers It's just about getting to the AFC championship game for me And I think if they can I think we'll have to see how the season starts La Buccaneers to kick it off. That's gonna be two big tests for the Houston, Texas to determine the type of team that they have

that's going to be two big tests for the Houston Texans to determine the type of team that they have. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see they have such a narrow window for what success is considered. It's just a tough place to be when you're facing the competition in the AFC that you are, but with that being said, I got more on the Texans, gonna give my predictions for what the Texans do this year here on my episode of Locked on Titans. Today's episode is brought to you by Rougiet. Guys, you've probably heard of Viagra or Cialis. Maybe you've even tried them, but if you're looking for something beyond the usual pill, it's time to meet Rougiet Ready. Rougiet Ready is a next-gen prescription treatment designed to amplify arousal in the brain and boost blood flow. Unlike the usual pills that can take hours,

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or manufacturing review. Please visit Rougiette website for full safety information. fans. Let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast, doing a Houston Texans deep dive. We talked about all the moves that they made early in the show. We talked to John Hickman from Locked on Texans, but I want to give my kind of summer prediction on what I see from the Houston Texans. Before I do, do want to thank you again for making Locked On Titans your first listen each and every day. For your second listen, check out Locked On NFL Scouting. As training camp gets closer, moves are being made. Host Kyle Krabs and Joe Marino will make you the most informed NFL fan this all season. Find Locked

On NFL Scouting on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. Again, I see a small step back wherever you listen to podcasts. Again, I see a small step back from the Houston Texans this year. That like, I think that the offensive line is significantly worse. Again, you go from having Laramie Tunsel at left tackle to Cam Robinson to a rookie and Ariante Ursery to Trent Brown.

I mean, if the Cincinnati Bengals don't want this guy on their offensive line, what are we doing? Blake Fisher, we talk about the left tackle spot. Why do people think that Blake Fisher is going to become a competent starting level offensive tackle right away? Like there's a lot of internal support for Blake Fisher, but like why they've moved Titus Howard inside the guard. Titus Howard is a pretty decent player, but I just don't see it. I'm sorry. I don't see it. Jared Patterson is not that good at center.

Cam Robinson is not good at left tackle. Lincoln Tomlinson is okay. Titus Howard is good. Blake Fisher is unknown. And we know that Trent Brown can't be relied on and they have Ed Ingram and that's great, sure, make that trade, but what? Ju Scruggs getting put to the bottom now? Ariante, Ursary, is that,

they just have so many question marks. It's like what they tried to do is, they tried to go quality, they tried to go quantity over quality. They're like, instead of having Laramy Tunsel on this huge contract, we're just going to trade him out. We're going to sign a bunch of guys on smaller contracts. And since we signed a bunch of different options

and we drafted a bunch of different options, we got so many different players. Like we have Cam Robinson, Ariante Ursery, Trett Brown, Blake Fisher, all at tackle. We have Ed Ingram, Titus Howard, Lincoln Tomlinson. Two of those guys are gonna be good guards. We have Jake Andrews and Ju Scruggs and Jarrett Patterson. One of those guys is gonna end up being a good center. Like they've just said,

hey, we're just gonna get as many bodies as we possibly can in here and somebody's gonna work out, right? And look, sometimes that's not the case. Sometimes it does not work out. So I think that offensive line is going to be absolutely terrible. And I know that their defense is going to be great.

Their defense is going to be great. And I know that they have good weapons. Look, I like their wide receivers, Kirk, Nico Collins, Jaden Higgins, Jaylen Noll, Braxton Barrios even. Like they added Justin Watson from Kansas City, who's a solid player. They still have Xavier Hutchinson. They still have John Metchie. They're going to get Tank Del back from injury eventually like they

have a ton of weapons. You can only have so many of those guys on the field at one time and if the offensive line is breaking down, it's the the meme that we all remember from the Bengals, Lions, Pennay Sewell, Jamar Chase decision of the you know wide open, Penesul, Jamar Chase decision of the, you know, wide open, wide receiver, good quarterback, but no offensive line, he sat. They could just turn into a new version of the Bengals. Just, they didn't reach those heights and their crash comes earlier. So, I think the Texans do take a step back. I think that they are a 10 and 7 to 7 and 10 team. I think if the offensive line is as bad as it seems, then they are going to end up 8 and 9, 7-10, they miss the playoffs, the offense doesn't improve,

the O-line looks worse, CJ Stroud looks worse. Massive disappointment for ownership, for the fan base, for the players, the organization, everyone. And I don't think that it would mean that D'Amico Ryan's would be fired And I don't think that it would mean that D'Amico Ryan's would be fired. I don't, no way, no way. But that sets up an off season where I think we go into it saying,

hey, D'Amico Ryan's is on the hot seat. D'Amico Ryan's is on the hot seat. And that would be wild, right? Imagine going in the time machine to last off season, coming off that playoff win over the Browns, and saying, hey, two years from now, D'Amico Ryan's is on thin ice. Because here's the problem. Again, C.J. Stroud is the number one asset in the franchise.

And if you're starting to go backwards and this problem that has caused you to start to go backwards is a problem because you have a defensive head coach. And a defensive head coach is great if they can get the OC right and not just get the OC right once you've got to get it right multiple times because once you get the OC right, they're going to get hired as a head coach somewhere else because people want offensive play callers as their head coaches because it avoids this issue that the Texans are getting ready to dive into right now. This is why. So it's like everybody go back and look, you know, Nick Sirianni and Mike Frabel and Mike Tomlin and Dan Campbell and all these CEO leader type coaches. Well, the downside to that is. If you can't get offense, right?

It doesn't really matter. You need your quarterback to be at max capacity to win. And you need someone who's going to get the best out of that quarterback. Period. And that's why having a defensive head coach or a CEO leader type head coach who doesn't call offensive plays. It's why it's tough. But with that being said, we got Indianapolis tomorrow. That is going to round out division rival week. That's going to do it for me today, folks.

As always, I am your host Tyler Roland and this was Locked on Titans. Thanks for watching guys!