The Texans have officially named C.J. Stroud their starting quarterback. Head coach DeMeco Ryans made the announcement following Houston’s preseason finale against the Saints last night.
The anointment of Stroud was largely a foregone conclusion ever since the Texans made him the No. 2 overall pick of this year’s draft. While the other two clubs that selected QBs in the first round of the draft, the Panthers and Colts, announced their rookie passers as their starting signal-callers some time ago, Ryans clearly wanted to wait until the end of the preseason slate and create some semblance of competition between Stroud and incumbent Davis Mills.
Mills, a 2021 third-rounder, showed some promise in his rookie season but regressed in a big way last year, posting a poor 78.8 quarterback rating and leading the league in interceptions (15). Although the Texans generally suffered from a lack of talent across the roster, it became increasingly clear that Mills was not going to be the team’s franchise QB.
As has been discussed a great deal, Mills threw a touchdown pass to Texans TE Jordan Akins on a fourth-and-20 play in the waning moments of the last game of the 2022 regular season. Mills then hit Akins for a two-point conversion, which gave Houston a 32-31 win over the Colts in what was a meaningless bout for both teams from a postseason perspective. However, the victory dropped the Texans from the No. 1 spot in the draft to No. 2, thereby taking them out of contention for Bryce Young, the quarterback that they reportedly preferred. Young was ultimately selected by the Panthers, who engineered a trade-up with the Bears to acquire him.
After Young came off the board, there was plenty of chatter that Houston would take the top defender in the draft with the No. 2 pick and wait until it was back on the clock with the No. 12 overall selection to take a quarterback, if it took one at all in the first round. By that time, Stroud likely would have been long gone.
As it turned out, of course, the Texans did take Stroud, and then they executed their own trade-up from the No. 12 spot to No. 3 to select Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. So they were able to land their preferred defender and their second-favorite quarterback, and we will soon begin to find out whether the dominos that began to fall with the fateful Mills-Akins touchdown connection will push Houston into a new era of competitiveness.
Stroud spent three years at Ohio State, serving as the starter for the past two seasons. He put together a highly productive campaign in 2021 with 4,435 passing yards and 44 touchdown throws coupled with a 72% completion percentage. After wideouts Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave departed for the NFL, Stroud’s 2022 stats regressed a bit, but he still performed well enough to become a Heisman finalist and cement his status as one of the top passers in the 2023 class.
In his first preseason game against the Patriots, Stroud struggled against New England’s pass rush. He completed two of four passes for 13 yards, threw an interception, and took a 15-yard sack. He showed some improvement in the second preseason contest against the Dolphins, completing seven of 12 passes for 60 yards, and in last night’s finale against New Orleans, he completed two of four throws, including the first TD pass of his career.
“I thought [Stroud] did a really good job tonight, and continued to progress,” Ryans said (h/t Grant Gordon of NFL.com). “Had a good week last week against Miami, and to come back out this week, the ball placement was very nice.”
As Stroud is known more for his pocket presence than his athletic abilities, the ball placement that Ryans referenced and general polish as a passer is what the young QB will need to be successful at the professional level.
“I’m still going to work like the way I’ve been working, even more now,” Stroud said. “I’m blessed to be a starter so young in this league, which isn’t the easiest thing to do, but I know my coaches have faith and trust in me, and I’ll go out there and try to do my best.”
Stroud’s regular season debut will come against the Ravens in Baltimore on September 10.
I applaud Lovie for beating the Colts. The best middle finger I’ve seen in some time from the game. ‘Going to fire me w/ a terrible roster and only 1 year being charge? Fine F.U.!’..
Even with a terrible roster he was. BAD coach. He did not deserve another year.
Then fire the GM for hiring him. Another Bill B wash out from NE. Funny how NE staff has done nothing without Tom on their own.
I’m a fan of Lovie but he took on the job knowing the deck was stacked against him right from the start. It probably feels good to give someone the middle finger in those situations but it isn’t going to enhance your future employment prospects. If your going to make an exit, why not do it with some class.
Lovie has been in the league for decades. He has plenty of cash, or should anyways. Screw the Texans. They are poorly run franchise that’s ridiculed with incompetency top to bottom. I’m glad Lovie & D Culley fleeced them.
Lovie is responsible for Davis Mills regression. Lovie just cant develop QBs. When a franchise asks you to develop a young passer and you dont…..you get canned, especially when the player regresses.
Anyways. Sounds like your issues run a lot deeper than Texans being the Texans. Get help man. No way to go through life.
Ravens 27, Texans 9
Ravens 30 Texans 16
Ohio State has never produced a successful NFL QB.
Joe Burrow went there for a while didn’t he?
Ohio State didn’t “produce” Joe Burrow. They weren’t playing him so he went to LSU. He couldn’t even get a starting job at Ohio State so he transfers and wins the Heissman. It’s a legitimate statement to say that he is successful because he left Ohio State.
So, you were there in the QB meetings? And during practice? How was Joe at Ohio State? Did you guys hang out? You’re arguing semantics when you say Ohio State didn’t ” produce” Joe Burrow. He went there, was apparently coached by someone there, and practiced there.
Apparently you want an argument, I don’t. Have a good day
Facts are facts. Your opinion is yours. We all have one, so next time just start out with, IN MY OPINION. Saves a lot of time and effort.
If he has a stat line of 60.4comp 2242yrds 17tds 11 picks how would you feel?