Nick Caley focus for Texans offense: 'Don't beat ourselves, clean football'

Standing a few yards behind quarterback C.J. Stroud, offensive coordinator Nick Caley was in a perfect vantage point to watch the play unfold.

From the shotgun snap, to how Stroud read the Texans’ top-ranked defense, to the pass protection of an overhauled offensive line and watching the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year deliver a spiral into the waiting hands of wide receiver Jayden Higgins.

It was a textbook play at training camp. And Caley and the Texans hope that snapshot and other similar sequences represent a snapshot of an improved offense with a new emphasis on increased tempo in the passing game balanced by a punishing running game headlined by veteran running back David Montgomery.

In the second year of Caley running the Texans’ offense, there’s a lot more confidence in terms of how the offense is being run, to the speed and ease of communicating the play call to Stroud and getting hurried up to the line of scrimmage to survey the defense. Increased knowledge of what Caley envisions from an offense steeped in his background with the New England Patriots and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and quarterback Tom Brady should allow the Texans to upgrade their offense significantly.

Still, the Texans have some things to clean up. They have ranked 13th, 19th and 13th in scoring offense over the past three seasons. And Stroud has a lot to prove after five interceptions and five fumbles in two playoff games.

The plan as Caley heads into his second season as a play-caller after previous stints in New England where he learned the Josh McDaniels system and working for Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams is a leap of improvement

"I haven't been truly in Year Two at any place," Caley said. "I came into New England, they were established, so I didn't see what Year Two was. L.A., had been doing his thing. Everybody that I've spoken to from a college standpoint, when I was coaching on defense, I had been a part of year twos. There is definitely a higher level of understanding. The expectations, fundamentally, you have a year of being completely entrenched in those meetings, practice reps. 

"I've seen that now. I feel that now. Phase two, a year ago, you're teaching what basic information is. What are some of the core routes? Then you're integrating a handful of concepts a day. Phase three, you build on it. This year, it was more than double in terms of the frequency and that's a testament to our players and our coaches doing a good job. They did a great job of absorbing it, studying it, staying ahead and going out here and bringing it to life on the field and we've got an opportunity."

The debut of the Texans’ offense was mixed bag last season.

There was a significant improvement in pass protection as Stroud was sacked just 23 times under the direction of Caley and offensive line coach-run game coordinator Cole Popovich one year after being sacked a career-high 54 times in his second NFL season.

Playing without Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon due to a mysterious, foot injury whose complications led to him missing the entire season severely hamstrung the offense.

The Texans shelved five-time Pro Bowl runner Nick Chubb when he appeared to have lost his old burst and went with rookie Woody Marks as the primary running back.

Stroud missed three games with a concussion during the regular season. The former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year uncharacteristically struggled with ball security in the playoffs with five combined interceptions and five fumbles in two postseason games, including a career-high four interceptions in a divisional round playoff loss to the New England Patriots at snowy Gillette Stadium.

Nonetheless, the Texans finished 13th in scoring with a 23.8 points per game average and 18th in total offense with a 327 yard average per contest. In the final season before offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was fired, the Texans were 19th in scoring and 22nd in yards per game.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has repeatedly referenced vast improvement from the offense in terms of efficiency, nothing how a year ago in these practice sessions there were struggles to even snap the football and get the play orchestrated against the top-ranked defense in the NFL.

When the Texans had some sloppy moments in practice Thursday, Ryans wasn't pleased. There were penalties along with a botched snap exchange between Stroud and rookie center Keylan Rutledge, a first-round draft pick competing with incumbent Jake Andrews for the starting job.

“The one thing that stood out to me is we had some poor pre-snap penalties," Ryans said. "We went backwards offensively. Those are some things that stood out where we can clean those things up."

A year ago, the Texans had 40 pre-snap penalties and were tied for 15th in the NFL. In the final season under Slowik before his dismissal, the Texans had 46 pre-snap penalties in 2024 tied for ninth in the NFL.

"As a big picture, eliminating self-inflicted wounds, penalties, pre-snap errors, eliminating that," Caley said. "Don't beat ourselves. Play with a quieted mind and being able to go out there and execute at a high level. That is playing clean football and doing it consistently. That was our challenge last year. We needed to be more consistent. That's been the charge all offseason. We're not going back and living that world. Play clean, play with great fundamentals, play with precision and great execution and be able to cut it loose."

The collaboration between Caley, in his second season calling plays after previously working for the Patriots as a tight ends and fullbacks coach and under Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay as a tight ends coach and pass game specialist, and Stroud, a former second overall pick and Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State, heading into his fourth season is a pivotal element for the Texans.

Both Stroud, a California native with a low-key personality, and Caley, an Ohio native known for his intense, high-octane approach, have outlined a strong relationship.

"C.J., just the comfort level," Caley said. "As we went through a year and you have more and more dialogue and more time on task and more exposure, try to find the things that we do well that suit our players that he's comfortable with. We talk throughout the week during the season Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and those quarterbacks will know, especially in that room that it's an open forum. 

"They have the right to voice comfort level with this play, 'I love this play. I'm not as comfortable with this play and here's why. Can we tweak this?' We communicate and that starts with communication. That's what it is, understanding each other. We work really hard on that. I got a great relationship with C.J. I love the guy. He's worked really hard this spring and just trying to continue to build it and tailor it and just be more comfortable as a unit and have great dialogue and good communication and be transparent about things."

And Ryans sees a distinct difference in the offense, ranging from the rough moments of last year to now.

Especially when it comes to cadence from the quarterbacks, establishing rhythm and timing within the passing game and managing the play clock and down and distance.

The differences in the offense, they're all orchestrated by Caley with an additional year of experience under his belt.

“From last year to this year, I can see Nick truly growing as a leader, as a play-caller," Ryans said. "We've added more volume to our offense. It's basically for what our guys have been capable of doing. For the offensive guys, there's a second year around, second time around, going through install learning. It's easier for those guys to get moving at a faster pace and so the volume is up. Guys are executing at a high level, and he's able to do more things, more creative things. 

"He's been studying all offseason and calling me, blowing my phone up, but I had to not answer him. I told him it's break time. I want some break time with my family and he's still dialed in on football. So, I'm excited to see Caley’s growth and his process. Your first time calling plays, it's like any job you do, right? The more time on task, the more experience you get, the better you get at it, and he'll be much better this year.”

And key players in the offense are noticing the changes reflected by Caley and how that is causing a ripple effect on plays’.

It’s a matter of using the time allotted before plays to position the offense for maximum chances of success.

That involves a faster process all-around.

“Yeah, I feel like it’s really just getting the play call, getting in the huddle, hear it, and running out of the huddle, getting lined up and seeing where the defense is,” Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins said. “That’s pretty much the pre-snap situation. As an offense you want to hurry up because the play clock is going and you’ve got 25 seconds and it’s clicking by the time they roll it in. By the time you get to play, it’s about 15 seconds. That’s the pre-snap urgency we need.

“Go out, get lined up, see what the defense is in, wide outs, see who the safeties are, if you’re hot or not, communicate that with C.J., the quarterback. A lot goes on before you say hike, before you call snap. I feel like that’s things we’re working on now in two-minute, just hurry-up offense so on Sundays we’re not thinking about it. If we say we want to change the play, put you on this route, it’s natural.”

The play-calling last year. Of course, there are a bunch of plays Caley would like back.

"I was told this a long time ago by a mentor of mine, you're going to want plays back," Caley said. "It's about learning from those opportunities. It's about looking at the big picture and how I can grow and how I can learn. I'm always trying to do that. I don't have any ego in this. I'm trying to put our guys in the best position to be at our best and that's what we're trying to do always."

From the standpoint of Stroud, he likes what he’s seeing from Caley. They’re on the same page.

“Yeah, definitely. I love Cales,” Stroud said Monday. “I think there’s growth in our relationship, there’s growth in his ability to call plays, growth and DeMeco trusted him.”

The Texans traded for Montgomery, a powerful running back, and signed him to a two-year, $16.5 million extension. The arrival of Montgomery should allow the Texans to build a punishing run game and become a better red-zone and play-action offense.

“He’s all-day tough,” Caley said of Montgomery, who was nicknamed ‘Knuckles’ while playing for the Detroit Lions. “His body of work will speak for itself. Runs behind his pads, stays grounded. Arm tackles aren’t getting it done. He’s going to try to run through you every single chance. He can sets guys up. He understands how to set blocks and to deliver and help deliver defenders to the blocker.

“He loves football. He’s very serious. He’s a true pro. I’ve admired him for a long time, dating back to when he was at Iowa State. He’s a Cincinnati guy. He’s tough. He embodies everything we want here with our team and with our offense. I’m really, really happy that he’s a part of our team. He’s made an impact. You can feel him.”

The Texans retained right guard Ed Ingram on a three-year, $37.5 million contract and former Pro Bowl swing tackle Trent Brown with a one-year, $7 million deal. They signed left guard Wyatt Teller, a Pro Bowl selection with the Cleveland Browns, to a two-year, $23 million deal and right tackle Braden Smith to a two-year, $25 million contract during free agency. They drafted Rutledge.

It's all about building out a better running game. Montgomery's presence helps a ton.

“Block well, run well," Ryans said. "It's not that hard. It's a mindset when it comes to the run game, you got to play physically. Offensive line, starting with those guys, you got to be physical, you got to play with the proper hat placement, your footwork has to be dialed in, it has to be right. 

"The backs have to run great tracks, and they have to know when to make the right decision with their cuts, with their vision, their reads. It's a lot that goes into it, but not to overcomplicate it. You got to block the guys in front of you and you got to run like you want to get every single yard that's out there.” 

The Texans named Jerry Schuplinski as quarterbacks coach, replacing Jerrod Johnson. And they extended tight end Dalton Schultz on a one-year, $12.6 million deal. They signed Collins to an upgraded contract that adds $17 million in raises over the next two years and includes a $27 million signing bonus.

"Jerry was here with us last year, he was really handling all the meetings," Caley said. "He's doing a really good job and he has a great relationship with that room. He's a really good teacher. He's very practical. He's very even-keeled. He's a great listener and has a great relationship with those guys. I've known Jerry for a while. Jerry is as steady as they come. He's extremely bright and he's extremely humble. I appreciate everything that he's about and what he brings to our staff. I'm quite sure the quarterbacks do, too."

Stroud definitely appreciates the reinforcements, and the financial commitment to the offense.

“I think we’ve taken a huge step from where we were last year to where we are now,” Stroud said. “Even in practice, we’re competing. We’ve got guys that want to play ball, want to do the right things, who have been here. I think the culture is starting to pick up on offense and we’re starting to get it together.”

Collins is seeing encouraging signs from Stroud. He sees a big season unfolding.

For his career, the former second overall pick, consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State has completed 63.8 percent of his throws for 10,876 yards, 62 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.

“Different guy, different dude, man on a mission,” Collins said during his annual youth football camp. “Man, he’s ready to hunt.”

Marks sees a similar approach from Stroud, who has been training with his teammates in Houston throughout the offseason conditioning program.

“Yeah, he’s been there since March 2, since we started the offseason workout, he’s been grinding,” Marks said. “Got a new look. He kind of told me the end of the season that he was going to cut his hair. I wasn’t believing it. He’s been working.

“Just seeing the quarterback, the leader of the team out there working in the offseason, not working somewhere else, putting in work at where he belongs at and that’s in Houston. He’s been doing a tremendous job. He got bigger and stronger. His times when we were running outside, he’s getting faster. I’d say he should be using his legs a lot this year, too.”

And Caley is running the show. He said he wants to increase the involvement of the tight ends with more 12 personnel (two tight ends) and even 13 personnel (three tight ends) along with a potential split-back look with Montgomery and Woody Marks on the field at the same time.

The Texans also want to create more explosive plays with increased roles for second-year wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

“We’re further ahead now than we were at the end of the season, obviously further ahead than we were last year, so we’re just going to continue to try to do those things,” Caley said. “The explosives come by doing all the right thing consistently and having all 11 tied together in those things, and that’s where the opportunities come.

Then to piggy-back off of that, when you do have the ball your hand, how do we create more yards after the catch with the ball in our hands? Is it attacking leverage? Attacking entry? Being able to set up defenders in the open field. Those are all things we try to attack on a daily basis and have progress with.”

And Caley has devoted countless days, weeks and hours toward self-scouting to learn from what worked and what didn’t a year ago. He’s determined to transform the offense into a higher scoring threat than a year ago when the Texans were one of the least effective red-zone outfits and standout kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn tied David Akers’ NFL single-season record with 44 field goals.

The Texans need touchdowns, a lot more of them, to hold up their end of the bargain on a team led by an elite defense.

“You lift up the hood, and you always look at yourself under the hood,” Caley said. “I think the one thing, when we look back through last year, is how can we avoid getting into longer yardage situations? I think one thing for myself too is just trying to find those alternative ways is to be able to do those things on early downs. There’s going to be some games where the run game is going to get going, and there’s going to be games where it’s not going to go as well.

" I think just trying to evolve in the early down and distance phases. You talk about the evolution of that, you think you do it last year, but even more intentionality of putting guys in different positions. This is the time of year to do it, right? So, seeing what they can do, versatility. The receivers, do we have some inside to outside flex? Sure, we do and vice versa. So, getting those guys in position to be able to show what they can do here."

NOTE: Wide receiver Tank Dell is still working his way back from a devastating knee injury suffered two seasons ago. 

Texans general manager Nick Caserio said that Dell will be able to do more in practice in a week or so. He took part in a walkthrough practice Thursday, but it wasn't full speed. Progress has been made, significant progress.

"It brings joy to me," Caley said. "He has such a spirit about him. I know he's worked really, really hard. Getting him out there and getting an opportunity to integrate himself based on his plan has been great and just keep bringing him along. He brings a smile to my damn face every single day when I see him. You know how he is, he's awesome.

"His body of work speaks for itself. I think he's got good versatility. He can move around, he can build speed, he can do a lot of different things. He's got a versatile route tree and he's highly competitive. I don't see a lot of restrictions on him."

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and Sports Talk 790.