HOUSTON – Accountable, introspective and authentic, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud doesn’t approach public speaking as a time to button up his personality.
Whether it’s celebrating a victory and a good performance or being analytical and often as tough on himself as his critics, the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year doesn’t mince words or hide from the truth.
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Stroud is keenly aware that his second NFL season has been a rough one in many respects. He’s also shouldering too much blame for what has transpired heading into the final game of the regular season.
What’s obvious, beyond a regression statistically one year after joining Tom Brady and Joe Montana in an exclusive fraternity as the only quarterbacks in league history to ever lead the NFL in passing yards per contest and touchdowns-to-interception ratio is that Stroud and the Texans collectively are in a funk.
The symptoms of the problem are on display nearly every week. In terms of fundamentals and mechanics, Stroud is often throwing off rhythm or off his back foot instead of stepping into his throws. In one case, in a performance against the Baltimore Ravens, Stroud was called one of the worst of his career, his off-target throw intended for wide-open tight end Dalton Schultz was affected by Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil being bull-rushed into him and stepping on his cleat.
Substandard pass protection has been a recurring theme and factor in Stroud’s season. He has been sacked 52 times, significantly up from his total of 38 sacks as a rookie when he was named to the Pro Bowl, and was sacked five times and hit 10 times overall during a 31-2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas. Stroud completed just 17 of 31 passes for 185 yards and was picked off on an errant throw by safety Kyle Hamilton. He had a 59.2 passer rating.
One year a historic rookie season during which he passed for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions with a 100.8 passer rating on 63.9 percent accuracy, Stroud has dipped to 3,677 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, a 62.7 completion percentage and an 86.0 passer rating.
Although he isn’t listed on the injury report, Stroud has been hit a lot. He trudged off the field against the Ravens at one point to get checked out by trainers and went back into the game after backup Davis Mills relieved him for one play.
“I mean, I think I’ve tried to approach the game the same way I did and I think I’m seeing it better than I ever have,” Stroud said after the Ravens game. “Just a little banged-up, so not really making plays. That’s a terrible excuse. But really just not making plays. That’s really the difference between last year and this year for me. Just not making enough plays.
“There are times where the plays are to be made and there are guys open and I got to find a way to make the play work, do something just that I’m capable of doing, you know, winning us a football game. That’s really up to me to lead our team in those times where guys are open, and ultimately it’s just me making plays. That’s really how I look at the difference between this year and last year, which can be fixed.”
Kyle Hamilton lays out for the pick! #NFLonNetflix#BALvsHOU on @Netflix pic.twitter.com/hJ1UneV2My
— NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2024
Stroud is undoubtedly affected by injuries at the wide receiver position in addition to being sacked frequently as he lines up behind a makeshift offensive line currently configured with Tunsil at left tackle, Tytus Howard at left guard, Jarrett Patterson at center, Kendrick Green at right guard and rookie Blake Fisher at right tackle. Two starting guards, Shaq Mason (Grade 2, sprained medial collateral ligament) and Juice Scruggs (foot) are sidelined with injuries.
Between wide receivers Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs out for the season with knee injuries and star wide receiver Nico Collins missing five games with a pulled hamstring earlier this season, Stroud hasn’t consistently had a lot of weapons on the field.
Has he been able to overcome some of his circumstances? Yes, he has. Has Stroud always been able to make throws and hit open targets? No, he hasn’t.
That breakdown in his game was on display against the Ravens.
“It was terrible on my behalf, probably one of my worst games of my whole career,” Stroud said. “I didn’t lead the offense the way I should have. I always got to look at myself in the mirror and be honest with myself and not good enough. Can’t hang my head down, but just got to keep going.”
#Texans C.J. Stroud missed just one play and went back in @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/EKg60mGAXr
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 25, 2024
Even if Stroud had hit the throws, it’s unlikely the Texans win the football game.
The defense was horrible, allowing 432 yards of total offense and 251 rushing yards as the Ravens’ powerhouse backfield of quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry was unstoppable.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said the latest setback can’t all be placed on Stroud’s shoulders.
“Nobody played good enough for us to win the football game,” Ryans said. “There were opportunities we had that we didn’t make, not only from C.J. At the end of the day, you have to make plays. The Ravens made way more plays than we made. .. C.J. just has to keep playing. There are going to be some misses. Just have to keep playing.”
.@DafeOweh SACK 💪 pic.twitter.com/R8JX1krpB6
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 25, 2024
Whether it was Kyle Van Noy, Travis Jones or Odafe Oweh busting into the backfield to sack Stroud, he was under heavy duress throughout the game.
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There’s not much he can do in those situations other than throw the football away, try to scramble away from defenders as fast or faster than him or just eat the sack and live to fight another day.
Kyle Van Noy is up to 11.5 sacks on the season! #NFLonNetflix#BALvsHOU on @Netflix pic.twitter.com/ndk7xQXeDa
— NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2024
“I’m just not making enough plays,” Stroud said. “There are times where the plays are there to be made and there are guys open and I got to find a way to make the play work. Do something that I’m capable of doing: winning us a football game. That’s really up to me to lead our team in those times where guys are open, and, ultimately, it’s just me making plays.”
The Texans are now 1-5 against teams with winning records with their lone victory over a winning team against the Buffalo Bills.
One of Stroud’s worst throws was an overthrown pass over the head of Collins by the sideline. That wasn’t a case of pressure. That was an obvious misfire.
The missed opportunity with Schultz was a case of pressure breaking down a prime shot to pick up a lot of yardage.
Stroud was pressured on 37.8 percent of his dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats.
There were instances where he held the football too long, including a sack by outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy where Stroud had options to get the football out of his hands.
“No. I just kept missing,” Stroud said. “Just wasn’t making throws. At the same time, I got to find a way to stand in there stronger and make those throws. There was some miscommunication with me and some of the receivers, but ultimately up to me to make the throw when guys are open.”
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There have been multiple passing sequences, including the play where wide receiver Jared Wayne accidentally crashed into Dell on his season-ending knee injury that includes a dislocation of the entire knee, a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a torn medial collateral ligament, a torn lateral collateral ligament and meniscus damage, per league sources, where the Texans’ wide receivers are bunched up and occupying the same area. That lack of proper spacing makes it easier for defenses to cover the Texans.
Stroud also overthrew wide receiver John Metchie III, who caught five passes for 48 yards, as well as throwing too short on incomplete throws.
On his interception, Hamilton displayed impressive range and instincts to jump in front of Stroud throwing to his right on a rollout pass in the third quarter.
There’s a lot of concern about the Texans, and Stroud, as they skid into the playoffs as an AFC South champion and fourth seed.
“I mean, what are you going to do?” Stroud said. “Cry and weep about it? Of course, you know, it’s not easy. At the same time, it’s part of the game. Sometimes you go out there and lay an egg. Things happen. I’m sure a lot of people in their careers had this type of game before. I’m not going to sit here and act like it’s foreign, but it is necessary to wake you up. That’s what it’s going to do for me and this team.”
And, yes, Stroud heard the boos from the home crowd loud and clear. He didn’t take issue with the fans’ displeasure.
“People are entitled to their opinions,” Stroud said. “They care about the game. Their emotions matter, so I understand. It’s not my first time and probably won’t be my last. It’s not something to internalize and point the finger at yourself. But it is something that you can use it to motivate you to like not want those moments anymore.
“So. I got plenty of football left in my career. Hopefully, God willing. I know this is going to be a story I’ll tell one day that helped me in the long run. It’s part of life, man. You hit a lot of valleys and have a lot of mountaintops. It’s cliche, but there’s not sunny days if there is not days with rain. It’s a rainy day but at the end of the day the sun will rise up tomorrow. We have another crack at this thing next week and keep rolling.”
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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
