C.J. Stroud

[Colts And Orioles]

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C. J. Stroud Admits That He’s Not Playing Up to His Standard ...... ‘I Got to Be Better'

(By Sam Warren)

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/spo...s-19939858.php




Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud looked like he was playing college ball at the start of Sunday afternoon. One play after Dameon Pierce returned the opening kickoff 81 yards, Stroud found former Ohio State teammate Cade Stover wide open in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown.

Stover’s first career score was also the fastest of the Texans' season and Houston was up 7-0 before the NRG Stadium crowd had even filtered in from their tailgates.

But Sunday ended as many games have of late for Stroud and the Texans offense. The second-year quarterback threw two interceptions as Houston lost 32-27 to the Tennessee Titans. Just one of Houston’s 12 drives following Stover’s score resulted in a touchdown, and that came on a second-quarter Nico Collins 5-yard grab.

The Texans' offense failed to score a touchdown in the second half against the Titans. It’s the seventh time they’ve done so in 12 games this season. But Sunday’s final two quarters were particularly tough for Stroud and his unit. They did not cross midfield by their own accord, only running plays in Tennessee territory after recovering a muffed punt. The Texans were also 0-for-6 on third down in the second half, the first time they haven’t had a converted for a whole half this season.

Stroud took ownership of the offensive struggles that ultimately resulted in defeat.

“You can point a lot of places, but I always point at myself,” Stroud said. “I’m the leader of the offense, I got to get us rolling, get our rhythm. We got to find a better way to end the first half better, start the second half better. Ultimately, that starts with me and taking care of the football and getting into a rhythm. Running the ball well, getting us into the right reads and right looks. I would just say that’s how we’re going to get better is I got to be better.”

However, Stroud has regressed rather than gotten better throughout the season. His 73.9 passer rating since Oct. 20 was only ahead of Chicago Bears rookie Caleb Williams (72.2) and Dallas Cowboys backup Cooper Rush (72.2) amongst quarterbacks with 100+ pass attempts headed into Sunday’s games. Stroud was sixth in the league in his NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning first season with a 100.8 rating over 15 games. He’s gone over that mark just twice this season and not since a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 29th.

His 20-for-33, 247-yard day with two touchdowns and interceptions apiece earned him a 78.7 rating. That was almost 45 points worse than Titans quarterback Will Levis’ 128.7. He ranked 31st before Sunday.

Stroud’s rating and the Texans' loss were directly affected by his two turnovers. He was a clean 11-for-15 for 149 yards and a touchdown when the Texans started their final drive of the first half. With the game tied at 17 and Tennessee getting the ball to start the third quarter, Stroud was determined to untie it headed into halftime. He helped do that, but not in Houston’s favor.

On 2nd-and-10 from the Texans own 14, Stroud fired to a settling John Metchie III wide-open in the middle of the Titans zone defense. But Stroud’s pass sailed right and right into the hands of rookie corner Jarvis Brownlee Jr. A short interception return gave Tennessee the ball in the opposing red zone and a chance to double-dip on points on either side of halftime.

“The first one, couldn’t really see Metch,” Stroud said. “I tried to put it in the window, and we just weren’t on the same page. Can’t do that right there. That’s giving them points which ultimately led us to lose.”

Gave them points it did, as Titans kicker Nick Folk knocked through a field goal as the half expired to give the Tennessee a 20-17 lead.

Stroud’s other turnover didn’t result in a score but gave the Titans good ground to do so. The Texans went three-and-out on their first drive of the third quarter and a Joe Mixon first-down stuffed run on their next threatened another. Stroud had an opportunity to get his stagnant offense moving on 2nd-and-10 as reliable target Nico Collins streaked open across the middle. But his try to push the ball downfield wasn’t pushed high enough, as lurking linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. leaped and caught Stroud’s pass before it ever got to Collins.

“The second one, just got to put it a little bit higher,” Stroud said. “If I get it to him, Nico has a lot of space to run. Just two mistakes that I made that can’t happen.”

Murray’s pick put the Titans back in Texans territory, albeit not for long. Three plays later, Houston safety Jimmie Ward jumped a Levis pass for a 65-yard touchdown and put his team up for the first time since the Stover touchdown. But the 24-23 lead was one the Texans offense couldn’t contribute to, lost and ultimately provided detriment.

Stroud was 8-for-15 for 94 yards the rest of the way, having a 48.4 rating in the second half. He could have added 33 yards and a touchdown to that when he found Collins on a catch and run for a score late in the fourth quarter, but an illegal shift penalty where Texans receiver Tank Dell and running back Joe Mixon motioned at once negated that. The drive ended in Ka’imi Fairbairn missing a game-tying 28-yard field goal and killed Houston’s last real scoring chance.

Stroud said he was to blame for the penalty because of miscommunication with Dell and Mixon.

“Those are things that can’t happen,” Stroud said. “I have to be better in the huddle. I’ve got to give the play better and make sure guys are on the same page. Even when we break the huddle, still communicate a little bit and make sure everybody is doing what they’re doing. It was my fault.”

Though Stroud and the Texans had more inexcusable plays to display on their final drive. Houston had one last shot down 30-27, though it was slim being backed up to its own 8-yard line with 1:29 left to go. That small chance quickly suffered as Stroud couldn’t connect with Collins over the middle and Jeffery Simmons sacked him on the Texans’ goal line. It was then finally snuffed out as Stroud scrambled right on 3rd-and-17 while looking downfield from his own end zone. He also scrambled right into the arms of Titans linebacker Harold Landry, who sacked him for a safety and effectively ended the game.

The Texans did not allow a sack through three quarters but gave up four in the fourth. Though Houston’s offensive line has been much maligned this season for faulty protection, Stroud said some of the sacks “were my fault,” including the safety.

While the two touchdowns are his most since Oct. 13’s win over the New England Patriots, Stroud took no solace in any positives coming from Sunday’s defeat.

“It’s no secret, I haven’t been playing well personally up to my standard,” Stroud said. “I have a couple of good drives, a couple of plays here and there. But it’s just up and down right now.”

While it’s been up and down for Stroud and the Texans this season, he knows now is not a time to mope. At 7-5 and 4-1 in the division, Houston still owns a two-game AFC South lead over the Indianapolis Colts.

“I’m not gonna hold my head down,” Stroud said. “I’m gonna keep my chin up and chest high. I know I’m still a great player, I just got to put better stuff on the field.”

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[Racehorse]

But Dam said!

[Colts And Orioles]

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

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C. J. Stroud Admits That He’s Not Playing Up to His Standard ...... ‘I Got to Be Better'

(By Sam Warren)

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/spo...s-19939858.php

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(9 MONTHS LATER)



The young man is very angry with his teammates.



C.J. Stroud Rips Teammates for ‘Lollygagging’ During Week 1 Loss to Rams

(By Brad Crawford)

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/c...-downs-effort/

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[Colts And Orioles]

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

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(9 MONTHS LATER)



The young man is very angry with his teammates.



C.J. Stroud Rips Teammates for ‘Lollygagging’ During Week 1 Loss to Rams

(By Brad Crawford)

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/c...-downs-effort/

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C.J. Stroud’s 2 INT's Help Put Nail in 0-3 Texans’ Coffin, Plus Week 3 Game Balls, Biggest Gaffes

(By Tyler Sullivan)

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/n...s-sink-texans/

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[Colts And Orioles]

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The Texans’ Offense Regressed, and Mistakes Multiplied

(By Sam Warren)

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/spo...e-21109582.php



The Houston Texans couldn’t keep momentum after their week off Monday night as they lost to the Seattle Seahawks 27-19. The road defeat in prime time further complicates the Texans’ playoff chances, as their 2-4 record puts them 3½ games behind the division-leading Indianapolis Colts and keeps them in 10th place in the AFC. The top seven teams make the post-season.

Here are some instant takeaways from the troublesome loss:


Offense Takes Step Backward


The Texans’ offense looked like it made some major strides heading into its week off. It posted 70 combined points in wins over the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens. But Monday night showed those performances were more telling of the opponents, not of their own prowess.

Houston was dreadful on offense against the Seahawks. It failed to score a touchdown until the waning moments of the game. It had just 254 yards of total offense. It went just 2-for-15 on third down, and just 1-for-4 on fourth down. And its lone turnover could have been compounded by more throughout the night, with Houston nearly giving up two safeties in the game.

The root of the Texans' issues was the ineptitude of their offensive line. Quarterback C.J. Stroud faced pressure from the Seahawks' dominant front all evening, and Houston couldn’t get any movement in the run game, either. The Texans ran for just 56 yards, their lowest total of the season. And Stroud was sacked three times.

The pressure did a number on Stroud, who never looked comfortable. His feet pattered with unease, and he continually dropped back further than he needed as he felt the need to flee from Seattle’s pass rush. He finished the night 22-for-49 with 229 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His 59.0 passer rating was his lowest of the season and the lowest he’s compiled since Houston’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in October of last year.

While the Texans' defense did give up some gashes, particularly to the league’s leading receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, it played well enough for Houston to win this game. The four turnovers it created were the most it’s forced this season, and Will Anderson Jr. secured the first defensive touchdown of the year with his third quarter strip sack.

But its offensive counterparts couldn’t do anything with that help. Houston could not score a touchdown off any of the three other turnovers, coming up with field goals on just two of them. The loss became just the fourth in franchise history when the defense has forced four or more turnovers, the first since last season’s loss to the Detroit Lions.

Monday night was a chance for the Texans’ offense to take the next step after a week to regroup and build on their recent successes. But instead, it regressed. Houston’s defense showed it can almost single-handedly win games. However, if the offense continues to look this incompetent, those winning chances look slim for the rest of the season ahead.


Mistakes Make a Difference


The Texans had 15 days to prepare for Monday night’s matchup. But it definitely didn’t look like it.

Houston began the game sloppy on all fronts, with critical errors putting it in a hole early. C.J. Stroud ran backward for a near-safety on the Texans’ first offensive drive. A stumble by Derek Stingley Jr. in coverage propelled Seattle to its score first. Azeez Al-Shaair then picked up an unnecessary roughness penalty on Sam Darnold to extend the next series, allowing the Seahawks to post another touchdown. Then a penalty on Aireontae Ersery and a drop by Nico Collins derailed Houston’s next offensive chance, which had some promise.

The Texans’ biggest mistakes came in the game’s final minutes, however. Their lone touchdown made it a one-score game with 2:04 left and one timeout. But instead of kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn sending the ball out of bounds to save the two-minute warning stoppage, he allowed George Holani to return his kick out of the end zone and shave time off the clock. If that weren’t enough, an unnecessary roughness penalty by Tim Settle on the team’s ensuing third-down stop gave Seattle a free first down, ending the game without a fleeting chance for the offense.

The struggles against a strong Seahawks team were somewhat understandable in a tough road environment. But the silly mistakes were not. The Texans had more penalty yards than offensive output deep into the second quarter, weren’t executing simple plays and their stars were not stepping up. They looked like a team with just days to get ready for the bout, not one with over two weeks of preparation.

Houston’s errors Monday night were deeply troubling. The team had gotten better on the penalty front prior to its week off. But it reverted to its early season issues in Seattle, which cost them dearly against a good team. Those mistakes after the break show signs of an undisciplined team with an inability to implement practice. The Texans will have to shake those traits if they want to go anywhere this season.


Roster Oddities


The Texans also made a pair of interesting choices with their lineup Monday night.

After Juice Scruggs had seemingly won the left guard job prior to the team’s week off, Houston gave Laken Tomlinson the start there against his former team. The Texans then went back to Scruggs on the next drive and continued to alternate between the two throughout the rest of the evening.

Houston used the strategy in its third and fourth games of the season as it felt it gave the offensive line the best chance to succeed. But Scruggs supplanted Tomlinson in the win over the Ravens as the veteran didn’t see a single offensive snap. It’s unsure why the Texans went back to switching, but it didn’t work as the line got no push against Seattle’s defensive line no matter who was in.

Another abnormal choice was Houston’s deployment of Braxton Berrios in favor of rookie Jaylin Noel early. With Christian Kirk ruled out prior to the game with a hamstring injury, Berrios made his Texans debut after being a healthy scratch the last three weeks. A big reason for his inactivity was the strong play of Noel at returner and receiver, but Berrios took over both roles to start against the Seahawks.

Berrios struggled to begin his first game of the year. He let his first punt return go for Seattle to pin Houston within its 5-yard line, and he caught one pass for minus–1 yards on three targets. Meanwhile, Noel flashed the explosiveness he’s shown all season in his chances, as he made a 29-yard catch to set up points going into halftime and a 22-yard catch to set up the Texans' only touchdown. Noel ended the night as the Texans second-leading receiver, catching four passes on seven targets for 77 yards.

The decisions were unusual, as there wasn’t clear reasoning for Houston to opt to deploy the two veterans over the younger players. But whatever the rationale, the choices did not make a positive difference for the Texans in the loss.

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[Racehorse]

But, Dam said he was the stud of the draft