Almost therrrreeee…
As summer hits full-on this week, it can mean only 1 thing: NFL training camps are about to begin.
H-Town is seeing lots of excitement around the refined 2025 Houston Texans. All this thanks to a new offensive coordinator, newly remade offensive line, several key free agent additions and some promising rookie talent.
Bringing in a new offensive coordinator often sets a steep learning curve. Modern NFL playbooks are ousually several inches thick, involve new scheme concepts, diverse blocking schemes, a myriad of route trees, and more information all digested through its own language.
New faces, new playbooks and new language around play execution opens a big chance for confusion and miscommunication. One thing that sets good coordinators apart from great ones is the ability to take all that complexity and make it easily digestible for the players.
Cristian Kirk on Nick Caley:
“Nick is all ball. Very intelligent, very smart. Does a great job communicating to us ( ).
Mentions it’s been “easy to learn” on new O & credits WR coach Ben McDaniels.
“This offense is dynamic. A lot of motions. A lot of pre-snap adjustments.” pic.twitter.com/j5NM7pg4Cq
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) June 3, 2025
In preparation for all that, the players must also adjust to a remodeled offensive line. Blocking schemes change, tendencies from old players to new differ, split-second reactions vary wildly from one lineman to the next.
If Calley and line coach Cole Popovich can get those 5 big men on the same page, everything else gets easier.
One of my favorite things to come from Texans OTAs is new OT Trent Brown showing up as a vet who cannot practice to help develop younger OTs like Fisher & Ersery.
When people talk about a mentality switch on the OL this is what they mean. pic.twitter.com/JFmACJ3l7w
— Jacob (@TexansJacob) June 8, 2025
New, veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk and rookie Jayden Higgins have to learn the new languages, new route trees, new expectations. All while building chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud and each other.
Latest veteran addition Nick Chubb will need to do all those things and decipher blocking schemes to find the holes and spot where he can pound the rock.
And all that’s just some of the offense.
Houston Texans Training Camp Dates
Calley and the new look offense begin Training Camp 2025 on July 22nd. Both rookies and vets.
Fast forward to August 14th and the Texans will host the Carolina Panthers for joint practices in the shadow of NRG stadium. The two teams will face off in a preseason game on Saturday, August 16th. Just a few short years ago many thought Stroud vs Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was an epic battle waiting to happen. Fortunately for Houston, Stroud’s stock has headed for orbit while Young’s has remained on the launchpad for Carolina. It will be interesting to see how many media outlets try to hype that angle when the game nears.
The Texans new look WR room during OTAs pic.twitter.com/4WuzSbXlRr
— Jacob (@TexansJacob) May 28, 2025