So, why am I even talking about it now? Well, seeing as the Houston Texans (1-2) quickly emerged as a difficult first few weeks of DeMeco Ryans’ tenure, it appears that the championship blueprint has found its way to H-Town, with a talented rookie class that has it. franchise trending in the right direction for the first time in years. While I’m not trying to push the 2023 Texans as opponentsThe pieces are certainly coming together for Houston to rise from the ashes of the Deshaun Watson era.
In their first draft together, Ryans and third-year Texans GM Nick Caserio attacked the prospect board with the clear intent of upgrading the four Ps. Well, they are actually three. With Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard already in place as bookends, the Texans were able to leave the pass protector (offensive tackle) off their shopping list. But look at what they did with three of their first four picks:
All three of those picks provide immediate returns, but let’s start with the first, for the obvious reason that QB1 THE most important part of the team building process.
In the extreme exercise in nitpicking that is the pre-draft process, Stroud faced questions about his processing speed and movement ability, especially outside of structure. In some circles, these concerns seem to overshadow the fact that he is the most natural thrower in the draft, with a game that looks poised between the lines. It’s short-sighted thinking, considering everything Stroud put on tape at Ohio State.
For two years, the 6-foot-3, 214-pounder sliced through Big Ten defenses with surgical precision as a fast-paced passer with great timing and anticipation. Operating out of the pocket, Stroud’s ability to fit balls into tight windows while utilizing a variety of routes and speeds makes his game planning easy at the next level. He is the classic dropback passer that has flourished in the league over the years. The Texans saw that, and when they went on the board with the No. 2 overall pick, they jumped. And boy does that seem like a good decision…
Having recently earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors, Stroud looks the part as a blue-chip passer with incredible poise and polish. As the first quarterback in league history with at least 900 passing yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in his first three career games, the rookie played like a 10-year veteran despite lining up behind a leaky offensive line. line that lacks four starters due to injury. . Most impressively, Stroud did it with a non-existent run game, which forced him to throw against aggressive defenses that attacked Houston’s one-dimensional approach. Sunday’s opponent, Pittsburgh, will present Stroud with his toughest test yet, as the Steelers boast one of the best pass-rushing duos in the game (TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith). I can’t wait to see how the 21-year-old fares. But given the many blitzes and simulated pressure he faced as a young starter, the rookie’s outstanding performance and production suggest he is a special player with the skills to lift everyone on the team. Just ask tight end Brevin Jordan.
“We drafted the right guy,” said Jordan after the Texans’ Week 3 blowout of the division rival Jaguars. “Man, he’s a leader. He’s an amazing player and an amazing person with God-given talent. Dude, he’s unbelievable.”