C.J. Stroud was uniquely ready to shred defenses as a rookie quarterback
Ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, C.J. Stroud's high school coach spoke to theScore about his knack for minimizing interceptions.
Here's how Mark Verti, head coach at Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California during Stroud's final years at the school, explained the quarterback's signature trait:
A lot of interceptions are like: 'Oh. I didn't know the guy was going to be there.' It's a surprise. Oops. He doesn't have those (lapses). He knows and understands the defense so well. ... He's always been able to put the ball in good spots and good places. Some guys just have it no matter how much you work on it. He's able to hit the spot outside the shoulder to go away from the defender.
Verti was in the crowd in Houston in mid-October when Stroud, the sensational Texans rookie drafted No. 2 overall, was picked off for the first time on his 192nd NFL pass attempt. Saints linebacker Zack Baun slipped unnoticed into Stroud's passing lane but got greedy as he ran with the ball and fumbled it back to the Texans. Stroud bounced back and led a quick touchdown drive that sparked Houston to victory.
Stroud's best throws look effortless, and his worst ones generally aren't ruinous. He tossed the most passes without being intercepted to begin a career, breaking the record previously held by Dak Prescott. He's a productive, trustworthy, ascendant NFL starter at the tender age of 22.
Most rookie quarterbacks sit or struggle for months upon entering the league. In a vaunted QB draft class, Stroud was uniquely ready to shine. He's upstaged top pick Bryce Young, whose winless Panthers host the 3-3 Texans on Sunday, and inspired confidence that Houston will make a playoff push this season and vie for future AFC South titles.
Reached by phone last week while the Texans were on a bye, Verti shared thoughts on why Stroud seems at ease under center, pointing to the signal-caller's ability to read defenses and grasp responsibilities at an advanced level.
"It looks like he's understanding the play and where to throw the ball, and what (route is) going to be open before it opens, and being quick on those decisions," Verti said.
"He's always been really good at trying to avoid negative plays - whether it's sacks or interceptions - that he can control. Learning the speed of how fast the pocket closes or how quickly holes close in the NFL and getting rid of the ball in that time, I think he's getting the hang of that really well."
Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesStroud's composure, accuracy, and touch were praised at Ohio State, where he threw 85 TDs against a mere 12 picks over 25 starts as a two-time Heisman Trophy candidate. He's misfiring more often in the pros. Stroud's 59.6% completion rate is near the bottom of the league. His 23.2% bad-throw percentage is the worst among qualified passers, according to Pro Football Reference.
But those misses are excusable for a few reasons, including his age and ability to protect the ball. Stroud barely gets picked, and the Texans rank first in giveaways (three), second in turnover differential (plus-six), and 11th in defensive average starting field position (the opponent's 27.8-yard line). Stroud puts Houston in favorable situations without having to play cautiously.
Willing to take shots downfield, Stroud ranks 10th in intended air yards per attempt (8.1) and second behind Matthew Stafford in air yards per completion (7.2), per Pro Football Reference. Only Jared Goff has a superior completion rate on passes that travel 20-plus yards (Stroud's is 56.3%, per PFF). Stroud clicked instantly with Nico Collins and Tank Dell, the young Houston deep threats who are each gaining more yards per reception than Tyreek Hill.
C.J. STROUD DEEP to TANK DELL!! pic.twitter.com/MUfkQmvD3G
- Vator (@VatorSports) September 24, 2023
Stroud glittered when the Texans smoked the Jaguars by 20 points. His 46-yard bomb to Dell, which eluded three defenders and set up Houston's first touchdown, was one of the season's most difficult and improbable completions, per Next Gen Stats. He also exploited a coverage error to feed Dell for a 68-yard sprint to the end zone.
Love this angle of the CJ Stroud TD to Tank Dell.
- De'Vion Hinton (@LordDexHinton) September 25, 2023
Throw led him back inside away from the sideline and he was able to adjust and catch it perfectly in stride.
Them dudes locked in. pic.twitter.com/vWdHGROM2Y
Stroud's five 20-plus-yard completions against the Steelers included a dime that sprung Collins' 52-yard score. In the win over the Saints, he shook off Baun's interception and promptly found Noah Brown for a 34-yard gain, planting his feet to power a fluid flick over the middle of the field a moment before the pocket collapsed.
The Falcons edged Houston on a field goal at the buzzer, but Stroud perfectly placed a TD lob to Dalton Schultz on the previous series.
.@CJ7STROUD WITH THE GO-AHEAD TOUCHDOWN
- NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
: #HOUvsATL on FOX
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxi72 pic.twitter.com/qZaI7r9mPn
The Texans rank sixth in expected points added per dropback, per Ben Baldwin's database, exclusively trailing offenses that field a glut of special playmakers (49ers, Dolphins) or one brilliant QB (Chiefs, Bills, Chargers). Houston's aerial attack excels even though Stroud's receivers have dropped 8.6% of on-target passes, one of the NFL's worst rates, per PFF.
Stroud's first six pro outings were historically strong. Only three passers - Cam Newton, Justin Herbert, and Kyler Murray - have thrown for more yards in the same span. Only Herbert leads Stroud in adjusted net yards per attempt, which places weight on a QB's touchdown passes and interceptions.
Every other rookie quarterback is experiencing growing pains.
Young has already lost more games in the NFL - the Panthers are 0-5 in his appearances - than he did in 27 starts at Alabama. He ranks 30th in QB EPA/play and 31st in adjusted net yards per attempt.
Surgery ended Colts QB Anthony Richardson's season after 84 pass attempts. The No. 4 pick, an audacious rusher, missed time with head and knee injuries before he sprained his right shoulder on a designed run.
Second-round selection Will Levis will be activated for the first time and is expected to start for the Titans on Sunday as Ryan Tannehill deals with a high ankle sprain.
Expectations were lower for Raiders fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell and Browns fifth-rounder Dorian Thompson-Robinson. They've combined to throw one touchdown and five interceptions in spot duty.
Stroud's showdown with Young, a fellow SoCal product and childhood friend, is the fifth in NFL history between quarterbacks selected first and second overall in the previous draft. Because the Panthers traded their first-rounder in 2024 to move up and net Young, they're at grave risk of handing the Bears the next No. 1 pick.
D.J. Moore's departure in that deal left Carolina with one receiver - Adam Thielen - who ranks in the top 100 in catches. The Panthers defense is 31st in points allowed and 30th in EPA/play, magnifying Young's lack of help.
Carmen Mandato / Getty ImagesOver in Houston, rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans has gotten the most out of Stroud's supporting cast. Clutch defensive and special teams plays helped fuel the upset of Jacksonville. Houston forced a fumble and interception, housed a kickoff return TD, and got a blocked field goal from rookie edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., the potential defensive cornerstone the Texans targeted at No. 3 overall after trading up in the draft.
Aimless before Ryans and Stroud arrived, the Texans went 11-38-1 while cycling through four head coaches over the past three seasons. Their remaining 2023 schedule features winnable games against the Broncos, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Colts, and Titans (twice). Stroud also faces the Bengals and Jaguars in November and the formidable Jets and Browns defenses in December. Those matchups could decide AFC playoff berths.
Stroud's challenge is to sustain his strong start. Erratic at times against the Saints, he completed 3 of 10 passes after halftime as the Texans punted four times on five drives. Houston's defense iced the game in crunch time with back-to-back fourth-down stops.
Verti caught up with Stroud inside NRG Stadium and noted afterward that hiccups, be it a sluggish stretch or his first INT, don't faze him.
"We don't take the worst thing as the end of the world. Never take anything as being the greatest thing of all time and over-celebrate it. It's always the next play, the next step, the next game," Verti said. "The interception is nothing to him. He understands those happen. Fix it, learn from it, and keep it moving."
Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.
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