00:00Let's go to the hotline right now.
00:01Normally we play C.J. Stroud's press conference on Texans postgame,
00:04but instead we've got the actual human being, C.J. Stroud,
00:07joining us on the hotline here.
00:09C.J., it's Sean and Clint.
00:10Congrats on the win today, man.
00:12Congrats on the numbers for sure today, a record-tying five touchdown passes.
00:16How did it feel for you to do that in front of a lot of your friends
00:19and family there in L.A. today?
00:22It was a blessing, man.
00:23I just give all glory to God.
00:24I'm just grateful to be back home in California in front of family
00:29and friends to play like that.
00:31It was great.
00:32You get a big-time win, and we need it.
00:34I think we're in the right train trying to just turn this thing around.
00:38I want to talk about seven now because it was a great day for you statistically,
00:42and that's all fine and dandy, but coming from an old quarterback,
00:45when you're throwing the ball the way that you're throwing the ball right now,
00:48C.J., take us inside your head.
00:52Look, I know it's a team game and the production's getting all you want to win,
00:55but just C.J. Stroud, the quarterback, the guy that's trained his whole life
01:00to perfect the mechanics of throwing the football
01:03and being that ball placement specialist and throwing it the way you are right now.
01:07I mean, are you aware of how well you're actually throwing the football
01:12and how effortless it looks when you are throwing it?
01:16Well, I appreciate you saying that.
01:18I put a lot of work into it.
01:20I'll be lying to you if it was just me.
01:22You know, first, I think it's all God-given, of course,
01:25and then I work very hard in the offseason.
01:28You know, I work with 3DQB out in Huntington Beach, California,
01:33and I put in a lot of work with him in the offseason.
01:36And then I also worked with MMVP this offseason to get my body right
01:42and just to, you know, work on some different mechanics
01:44and some different strength movements, throwing the ball, being more explosive.
01:47So I think all those things are playing a part to it.
01:50But, I mean, I feel in rhythm, and we're protecting really good.
01:53And I feel like whenever I'm protected, I can make any defense pay
01:56and put the ball wherever I want to put it.
01:58C.J. Stroud joining us here on Texans Post Game.
02:00C.J., we want to talk about some of the specifics from the game,
02:03but just to follow up on what Clint just asked you,
02:05one of the things that they said on the broadcast today,
02:07I think they said it after your – not the touchdown to Tank,
02:09but the other throw where you got rid of it quick
02:11and Tank was open deep down the field.
02:13Adam Archuleta said, boy, C.J. Stroud is just seeing the entire football field right now.
02:17Others have said that in commentary on the games about how you're seeing the field right now.
02:21Is that a proper framing of what it is you're feeling out there right now,
02:26just seeing the whole field?
02:27Is that a right way to put it?
02:28Is that accurate?
02:32I think so.
02:33I mean, honestly, I think it starts with the protection.
02:36You know, I think I've always kind of been able to really –
02:38since college or high school, I've always been able to see the whole field.
02:41And, you know, whoever's open, I'll try to get the ball as best as I can.
02:44And I've always kind of been gifted in that area.
02:47But I always think, you know, it comes down to protection, do I have the time to do it?
02:49And I think our offensive line this year is doing a great job.
02:52And, you know, I think we're mixing up protections, not just doing one or two things.
02:56We have multiple protections where we're mixing it up.
03:00And then we're playing a really great ball on the outside.
03:02I thought our receivers did a great job getting open when they needed to.
03:05And so it all just plays a part into it.
03:07But I think I've always been able to do that.
03:09But it's been, you know, really good this year because I think the protection has been great
03:12and the route running and detail has been amazing as well.
03:16CJ, I don't want to ask you about your peers around the league
03:19because I know what your answer is going to be.
03:21But I do – I watch those guys and I battle.
03:24And we talk about it all the time of nobody in football right now
03:27is playing the position at a higher level than 70 is.
03:30There's no doubt about it.
03:31When you talk about degree of difficulty of throws, the tight window throws,
03:35the ball you dropped down the chimney a couple weeks ago to Knoll with a DB in your chin –
03:41I mean, a defensive lineman in your chin strap, that's crazy.
03:43And you've been doing it.
03:44People act like you do it one game.
03:46You did it for eight straight weeks or I guess eight of nine weeks, whatever.
03:49I do want to ask you this though, CJ, because your rookie year was, I mean, a piece of art,
03:55man.
03:55I mean, it was absolutely beautiful whether you're a rookie or not, right?
03:59I want you to think back and compare what you're doing right now,
04:03just the way you feel in the pocket, the way you're playing the position right now
04:06versus that rhythm you were in your rookie year.
04:11I mean, it's – you know, the league changes every year.
04:14You know, I think I came in hot and, you know, I thought our – you know,
04:18that whole year was amazing to get my feet wet and, you know,
04:21I was able to, you know, put some great stuff on tape.
04:24But, you know, just like when you put great stuff on tape, people prepare
04:27and they try to eliminate that.
04:28And to be honest with you, I mean, I've always been a great player.
04:31I think I've always, you know, had great talent.
04:34But I think, you know, I think just the scheme, you know,
04:37has been involved around me now better than I think it has been in the past.
04:42So, I've been able to, you know, improve my mind a little more.
04:44And I don't say that to throw salt on anybody, but just being honest,
04:48I think I've, you know, I've always been a great player.
04:50I've always had confidence in myself that I could be one of the best in the league,
04:53if not the best.
04:54And now I'm getting the opportunity to do that with the scheme, the protection,
04:58the running game, the weight that's on my back, you know,
05:02the ability, you know, to push the ball down the field,
05:04which I think I'm really good at.
05:05So, I don't really see nothing.
05:07I've never changed.
05:08I think through my four years in the league, I've always been, you know,
05:10confident in myself, even when others weren't in me.
05:13But my close circle, my family, and the more supportive,
05:17I think God has always, you know, taught me lessons even through the hard times.
05:21I feel like I needed those hard times to learn from, you know, those mistakes.
05:25And also to, you know, keep my circle even tighter.
05:28So, I think it all had a story to play.
05:30And I think now I'm starting to see the fruit of it.
05:32But I'm very grateful for where God has me right now.
05:35Great stuff.
05:36C.J. Stroud joining us here on Texans Post Game.
05:38All right, C.J., I want to ask you,
05:39we don't have time to go through all five touchdowns.
05:42That's how good you were today.
05:43But there are two that I do want to ask you about.
05:45First, just purely, I guess from an emotional standpoint, as much as anything,
05:49how great was it to hit that deep shot to Tank
05:52and to get to squabble with him on the sideline today after that 63-yard touchdown?
05:57What do you know about a squabble, man?
06:00Man, me and Tank, they spent a lot of time together.
06:03You know, that's my brother, man.
06:05I love him to death.
06:06You know, he's a brother on and off the field,
06:08one of my best friends off the field.
06:10We spent a lot of time together.
06:11And honestly, we had a lot of hard conversations and just, you know,
06:14just fellowshipping with both men of God, both believe in Jesus Christ.
06:19So we lean on our faith, man.
06:21And I'm always telling them, like, one of my main verses is Matthew 19, 26.
06:26It says, Jesus said to them, with man, it's impossible.
06:29With God, all things are possible.
06:31So me and his lives, man, we beat the odds, man.
06:33We've been able to, you know, defy the odds.
06:38They were stacked up against us since we were kids.
06:40You know, so I'm just proud of my brother, man.
06:42I'm glad that we were able to connect on that.
06:44But it's just the beginning.
06:45I missed him on two of the throws.
06:46So, you know, I owe him some.
06:48And he's not tripping, but I know my brother, you know, has my back.
06:51And I love him to death, man.
06:52I just, too proud of his family, man, and just his whole team.
06:56Because they worked very hard to get to this moment.
06:58So it's just the beginning.
06:59We're going to keep going.
07:00Yeah, no, thanks for the best.
07:01And then I want to ask you about the Nico.
07:03I've been saying on the postgame show tonight, CJ,
07:06I've watched a lot of Texans football.
07:08I'm old.
07:09I've seen everything.
07:10I don't know that I've seen a better catch.
07:13Certainly not a better touchdown.
07:14Because I don't know I've seen a better catch of anybody in a Texans uniform
07:16than that touchdown that Nico had today.
07:19Put us in the quarterback's shoes on that.
07:21You throw in his direction.
07:22He's got a guy draped all over him.
07:24And the next thing you know, the referee's making a touchdown signal there.
07:28Man, I see him one-on-one.
07:30My eyes go up.
07:35Touch the ball.
07:37You know, he's going to make a play.
07:38And that's exactly who Nico is, man.
07:39He's one of the best I've ever played with.
07:41You know, he's a number one franchise guy who has done it week in and week out.
07:46And, you know, I'm just grateful because, honestly, he's very unselfish.
07:50You know, he hasn't had the numbers, you know, he's had in the past.
07:52He's passed for the weeks.
07:53But, you know, he's letting other guys eat, but he's also taking a lot of attention
07:56from other people.
07:57But when he gets his ops, he makes his play.
07:59So, you know, I'm just proud of him and the leadership role he's taking over.
08:02And, you know, he's a heck of a player, and I'm just grateful for him to be my brother.
08:07Hey, CJ, I think when we started this season, I think kind of the narrative,
08:12which I know you guys don't buy into or even listen to, was, hey, man,
08:16the defense is going to win this thing.
08:17The offense, just don't screw it up, man.
08:20Don't make mistakes.
08:20It's clearly, right now, you guys have scored 30 in three games,
08:2530 or more in three games, and now 40 or more in a game.
08:28You're in a similar hole.
08:30You guys got to dig yourself out of this thing over the next couple of months, man.
08:33And it's going to be in large part due to what seven can do through the air, man.
08:38Is moving forward, is this something?
08:41Tell us a little bit about the climb out of this thing
08:43and the path forward to getting these playoffs.
08:48Yeah, I think it takes one thing at a time.
08:50It takes, you know, a great meeting, a great walkthrough.
08:53Whatever your feet is at, you got to be able to, you know, to focus in on that
08:56because, you know, honestly, you look at our season, we've been losing some close games.
09:01And it's all about the little margins.
09:02You know, this league comes down to the little details.
09:05So, those meetings, those walkthroughs, those practices are the reasons why you win
09:09and lose games, in my opinion, the preparation.
09:11So, you focus in on preparation week in and week out.
09:14Focus on one thing at a time, one week at a time.
09:16And I feel like we'll be where we need to be.
09:18We're a special team, and we know that.
09:19But now we got to go prove it to ourselves.
09:23So, you know, it's just one thing at a time.
09:24It's not a crazy magical recipe.
09:26It's just playing better and winning games.
09:28There it is, C.J. Stroud, 384 yards through the air, five touchdowns today
09:33in a 44-22 win over the Chargers.
09:37C.J., we appreciate the time.
09:38We know you guys are on your way to the airport.
09:40Hey, have a great flight back.
09:41We love those happy flights, I'm sure, flying back after a big win like that.
09:44And we'll see you back in Houston.
09:46Thank you, man.
09:47If you're all in Houston, man, keep that squabbling up, all right?
09:50I will, too.
09:51I got it going right now, man.
09:52Me and Clint right now.
09:53We got to get a video on that.
09:53We got it going, yeah.
09:55All right, thanks, C.J., appreciate that.
09:57What do you know about a squabble?
10:00Oh, that's great.
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