Regardless of how towering the defense looks, the receiver play, or the offensive line blocks, everything starts and ends with C.J. Stroud if the Houston Texans stand a chance of making it back to the postseason.
It’s the preseason, so Stroud wasn’t expected to play in the second half. Could he have finished the drive as the clock struck zero following a 7-0 lead over the New York Giants in the first quarter at NRG Stadium? Perhaps, but DeMeco Ryans already knows Stroud hasn’t reached his ceiling entering Year 2.
An extra few preseason snaps won’t deter that notion, either.
“We have a lot of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball,” Ryans said. “A lot of people to distribute to, which is a good thing. I thought our guys played really well together and I was excited with what our first offense did.”
Stroud clicked during his 15 minutes of action in Saturday’s 28-10 win over the Giants. He looked calm in the pocket without Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil protecting one side of the field.
Most of his throws were on-point. If they missed, it wasn’t by much. And the deep ball accuracy was right on the money in the two series he played. Pinned at their own 1-yard line, Stroud connected with Dalton Schultz for a preseason-long 29-yard gain.
There it is, Stroud to Diggs. 🔥
📱: Stream #NYGvsHOU on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RrhMRWDyQ5
— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2024
He found Nico Collins for a pickup of 24 yards and a fresh set of downs. Even Stefon Diggs got into the action with a 9-yard gain on third-and-2.
Stroud finished 7-of-10 for 88 yards, though it should have been more with a 23-yard pass to Tank Dell. A holding call against Brevin Jordan negated the play and first down.
Schultz, who last season was Stroud’s top target on third down, led all starters with three catches for 39 yards. That could become a new norm given the defense’s attention to the outside targets.
“Dalton is a vet’s vet,” Stroud said of his tight end. “He’s somebody that comes in and works hard every day. Not only just on the field is he a mismatch and somebody who can create separation and do a lot of great things, but also he’s just a great leader.”
C.J. Stroud has this ball out so quickly once he ID's the linebacker as out of position, genuinely nothing the defense can do about it. Supercomputer #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/Gp6yq4Cjza
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) August 18, 2024
Houston doesn’t need to see its starters play in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams. Tunsil and Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon haven’t played all preseason and it would be perplexing to see them take snaps over players fighting for roster spots.
Stroud, who’s currently 9-of-14 for 129 yards and a touchdown in two preseason games, is the offense’s anchor. Houston won 11 combined games in three seasons before the No. 2 overall pick touched down at NRG Stadium in April. 2023.
The Texans won 11 total games in one season behind Stroud en route to a division title. Stroud made franchise history by becoming the first offensive player to win Rookie of the Year and now looks to be the first player ever to take home MVP honors.
Even if Stroud hasn’t been perfect this preseason, that’ll happen when live reps count against the record. He’ll connect sometimes with Diggs, Dell, or Collins for an explosive first down or score. He’ll sometimes lose the battle and return to the sidelines while the punt team takes the field.
Nico Collins is a bully
(bottom of the screen) pic.twitter.com/20y6Ymwcug
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 18, 2024
That’s football. No one is perfect every snap, not even tyrants like Stroud, Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes.
The Texans saw progression, timing and precise throws from their quarterback in two outings. They also saw a passer survey the field to find multiple targets in his “five-headed monster” attack.
“It’s up to my job to spread it and throw it to the guys who are open,” Stroud said. “I think all five positions, skill positions, do a great job of that.”
