Tag: C.J. Stroud

Colts send message to Texans, ready to reignite ‘bad blood’ between two franchises

Get ready for a rumble in Lucas Oil Stadium come Week 1 between two times who last played for a shot at the postseason.

Who are the Houston Texans’ arch-rivals in the AFC South?

The Jacksonville Jaguars spent most of the 2000s battling with Houston for third place in the division. Last season, their downfall led the the Texans’ triumph en route to a division title.

The Tennessee Titans hightailed it out of H-Town when Bud Adams elected to move the team from the Astrodome to build a new stadium following the 1996 season.

What’s worse is the Houston Oilers logo, branding and color scheme belong to the Adams family, thus adding more fuel to the fire whenever the Titans don that Love-Ya Blue whenever the Texans travel to Nissan Stadium.

But the Indianapolis Colts take first place for bitter foe entering 2024. One play separated the two squads from reaching the postseason last year under first-year coaches Shane Steichen and DeMeco Ryans.

Houston converted. Indianapolis didn’t.

That hatred has lingered at Lucas Oil Stadium for months since the Texans clinched the AFC South for the first time since 2019 and Colts players are ready to light the torch while hopefully giving fans what they pay for.

“I definitely think there’s some bad blood between the two teams,” Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner told Fan Duel’s Kay Adams. “C.J. [Stroud]’s been talking a little bit on the offseason. [Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin’s] been talking a little bit in the offseason. … It’s one of those rivalries you gotta look out for.”

The Texans, who finished 11-8 last season following a loss in the AFC Divisional Round to Baltimore, upgraded their roster in the offseason to push them into Super Bowl contention. They added Pro Bowlers Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon, plus brought in roleplayers like Azeez Al-Shaair and Denico Autry.

The Colts elected to run it back with basically the same 9-8 squad, though former first-round pick Anthony Richardson will enter the mix. He put on a showcase the first four weeks of the season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

Texans fans might think they have the better quarterback, but Richardson kickstarted a victory in Week 2 over Houston with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first quarter before leaving with a concussion.

The AFC South belongs to Houston for the moment, though three teams have claimed the title since 2018. Indianapolis, which last won the division in 2014, looks to end its 10-year drought with a win over the Texans in Week 1.

Por Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor mentioned that Colts players felt disrespected when Houston clinched the division in Week 18. He plans on returning the favor come Sept. 8.

“Someone is coming into Lucas Oil Stadium and they’re tryna wipe their paws, wipe their feet right on top of us,” Taylor said. “We can’t let that happen.”

WATCH: Texans QB C.J. Stroud joins Luke Combs on stage at NRG Stadium, owner Cal McNair shotguns beer

C.J. Stroud and Cal McNair were the stars on Saturday night opposite Luke Combs.

First, it was Glen Powell.

Now, it’s C.J. Stroud.

The Houston Texans quarterback joined Grammy Award-winning country artist Luke Combs on stage at NRG Stadium for night No. 2 of his back-to-back sellout crowd concert.

Several other Texans players joined the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year on stage, as did CEO and owner Cal McNair. Known for shotgunning beers with a select few folks before one of his hit songs, Combs toasted McNair before ripping one back.

Stroud looked the part of a native Texan, donning a white cowboy hat and Carhartt jacket. Several other Texans players were also seen wearing similar attire, embracing the culture of life at the home of the largest rodeo in the state.

It was a moment to remember for both Stroud and McNair, two fixtures of last season’s turnaround under first-year coach DeMeco Ryans. Fans cheered when Stroud took the stage, but erupted when McNair shotgunned on stage to cap off a memorable evening.

Combs might be gone, but the Texans have arrived following their 11-day road trip away from home. They’ll host the New York Giants on August 17 for their preseason home opener.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Good Morning Football host says not to sleep on the Commanders

GMFB says you shouldn’t be sleeping on the 2024 Commanders.

The Washington Commanders are a popular sleeper team in 2024. Why? The primary reason is that no one expects them to be a good team, like the Houston Texans in 2023.

Speaking of the Texans, more than one analyst has compared Washington to Houston over the offseason. Last season, the Texans, with a defensive-minded first-year head coach (DeMeco Ryans) and a rookie quarterback (C.J. Stroud), selected No. 2 overall, went from worst to first.

Can the Commanders, with their own No. 2 overall pick (Jayden Daniels), follow in Houston’s footsteps?

It will be challenging. The NFC East is a much tougher division than AFC South. However, “Good Morning Football’ host Peter Schrager says not to count out the Commanders in 2024. He believes Washington will be better than many believe.

Schrager praises Daniels, and he believes the veteran additions made in the offseason (Austin Ekeler, Zach Ertz, and Bobby Wagner) give the Commanders the perfect balance of youth and experience.

Washington didn’t look too good in its first joint practice against the New York Jets on Thursday. However, it would be wise not to overreact to one practice. The Commanders underwent more change than any other team this offseason, from the front office to the coaching staff and to the players.

Washington kicks off the preseason Saturday against the Jets.

Instant analysis of Texans’ 20-12 preseason win vs. Steelers

Here’s what Houston Texans fans need to know about from Friday’s preseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Danielle Hunter has arrived. Tank Dell is flying high. C.J. Stroud is shining bright.

Welcome back to winning football, Houston Texans fans.

Stroud picked up where he left off last season by connecting with Dell for a 34-yard touchdown during the first quarter to set the tone in Houston’s 20-12 preseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday night.

The Texans will return to NRG Stadium for the first time in 11 days to begin preparation for their next two preseason matchups against the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams before the start of a new campaign.

Here’s the instant analysis of Friday night’s action at Acrisure Stadium.

Offense

Albeit far from a perfect night, Stroud delivered a pass that will have fans talking throughout the weekend. On third-and-9, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year evaded a sack and stepped up to deliver a strike downfield to Dell.

The throw was perfect. Dell’s quick shoulder shrug to evade a tackle and punch it in for six was even better.

Last season, it was clockwork between No. 7 and No. 3 for a perfect 10-type drive against opponents before Dell’s untimely broken leg injury. Before being ruled out for the rest of the year, Dell was on pace to finish with over 1,200 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

He’s back and looking better than ever after taking a few pointers from newcomer Stefon Diggs. Even though there are plenty of mouths to feed in Stroud’s “five-headed monster” arsenal, Dell might be one of the more important ones.

Stroud finished with two completions for 41 yards in two series before being pulled. He also connected with former Ohio State teammate Cade Stover for an 8-yard pickup when under duress.

Both the second and third-team offense struggled, though Robert Woods looked promising during the second quarter. He led all receivers with four catches for 42 yards. Even if he doesn’t make the team, a performance like Friday could fuel trade rumors.

Without a stable offensive line, the rushing attack remains an underwhelming unit. Houston finished with less than 100 yards on 23 carries and averaged under 3.9 yards per attempt. Xavier Hutchinson, a receiver first, recorded the longest run of the night for 19 yards during the third quarter.

Dameon Pierce struggled to create separation after being met at the line of scrimmage four times. He finished with four yards on the evening.

C.J. Stroud connects with Tank Dell for Texans TD

C.J. Stroud was back at it for the Texans on Friday

C.J. Stroud and Tank Dell were a revelation for the Houston Texans last season. They picked up where they left off on Friday.

Stroud looked down the field for Dell, who was there to collect the pass and make some moves into the end zone against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The play was good for 34 yards and six points.

In his rookie season, Stroud led the Texans to the AFC South title. He threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Dell played in 11 games before being lost to injury. He had 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns.

Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson’s recalls his ‘it moment’ with C.J. Stroud

Texans QB Coach Jerrod Johnson was a guest on The Athletic’s “Playcallers” podcast discussing all things coaching and C.J. Stroud.

Jerrod Johnson’s playing career was ending, and the son of a former high school football coach was transitioning into the family business.

He was helping at the Elite 11 – a competition for the nation’s top high school quarterbacks—when he came across a 17-year-old, three-star recruit eager to learn and improve. 

The kid was C.J. Stroud.

Johnson, who enters his second season as Houston Texans quarterbacks coach, recalled the experience as a guest on The Athletic’s ‘Playcallers’ podcast. 

“Even at 17 when he came in, I don’t think he had much formal quarterback training (and) he wasn’t the highest-rated kid there for a week,” Johnson said. “But he just bought into our entire process. He stayed after, he asked questions, and he was just an eager 17-year-old who just wanted to get somewhere, wanted to chase his dreams, and he felt there was a lot of information there throughout that camp.”

Stroud went on to win MVP of the camp and soon after received a scholarship to Ohio State. Over his two seasons as the Buckeyes’ starter, he’d become one of the nation’s most prolific passers, leading to the Texans drafting him second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

“To meet him again as a young man, I do think us having a respect for each other and the time we met when we both were younger kind of broke the ice for us,” Johnson said. “I think there was a trust level, a mutual respect for each other that allowed us to hit the ground running.”

Johnson likely doesn’t get the credit he deserves for prepping Stroud week-to-week en route to winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Stroud combined explosiveness with ball security, ranking second in yards per completion (12.9) and first in interception rate (1.0).

It is regarded as one of the best seasons by a rookie quarterback in NFL history, as Houston finished 10-7 to win the AFC South and its first playoff game in four years.

“I think that Tampa Bay game is one that is forever ingrained in my brain,” Johnson said. “That’s a true sign of character and a true sign of his skillset, and that was kind of the aha moment to where he’s a legitimate NFL quarterback that can take us places we’d like to go.”

Stroud engineered a six-play, 75-yard drive with under a minute on the clock, connecting with Tank Dell at the six-second mark for a 15-yard touchdown to lift Houston over the Buccaneers, 39-37.

The win moved Houston to 4-4 and kicked off a 6-3 finish to the year, pushing it into the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Perhaps influenced by the contest, Tampa Bay interviewed Johnson for its offensive coordinator role after Dave Canales accepted the Carolina Panthers head coaching job.

He also interviewed with the New Orleans Saints but elected to follow the same approach Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who received head coaching interviews, and to return to Houston.

They’ll get the chance to work with Stroud and an improved supporting cast, and with another season like the last, they could be elsewhere in an elevated role.

It’s the price to pay as a good football team, but one the Texans will pay willingly.

Kirk Cousins, Brock Purdy ranked over C.J. Stroud in Madden 25

Madden 25 rankings are starting to come out, and they may have officially make CJ Stroud underrated as numerous quarterback are ranked above him.

The Ohio State Buckeyes had a reputation for having high-profile quarterbacks go into the NFL and not have instant success.

That is, until C.J. Stroud changed that narrative and had one of the best rookie seasons in the history of the position. Stroud was the Houston Texans‘ first round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, having been taken as the No. 2 overall selection.

Stroud, who won the AP and PFWA Offensive Rookie of the Year, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and ended with 4,108 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. He had just five interceptions.

One would think that’d make him a top-ten quarterback in the NFL, but EA Sports’ Madden 25 doesn’t see it that way, having released its top-ten quarterbacks.

Here they are below, with San Francisco’s Brock Purdy and Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins being the bottom two on the list. Unfortunately, there are no signs of Stroud.

Fun fact, Stroud has as many interceptions as Cousins and about 1,800 more passing yards. While Purdy was impressive, he had more than double the interceptions.

The rumors on ‘X’ make it appear that Stroud is ranked 81 overall and the 14th-best quarterback in the NFL. To say the least, that’s disappointing after one of the best rookie seasons in the history of the game.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud gets underwhelming EA Madden 25 ranking

Nearly everyone can agree that Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was shafted in his Madden ranking heading into 2024.

C.J. Stroud wasn’t expected to do much in the NFL before the 2023 season. As the No. 2 overall pick out of Ohio State on a franchise that won 11 games in three combined seasons, expectations were markedly low heading into September.

Stroud never got that memo since he put together one of the best seasons in NFL history for a rookie en route to helping Houston secure its first division title in four years. Players even were dazzled by his heroics, ranking him No. 20 in the NFL’s Top 100 list.

Even NFL coaches, executives and scouts voted Stroud the seventh-best quarterback in the league entering the 2024 season despite only having one season under his belt.

The folks over at EA Sports still need to see more from the offensive rookie of the year before placing at the top-tier spot.

EA Madden 25 revealed its ratings for quarterbacks on Friday, with Stroud grading out as an 81 overall. That would place him not just outside the top 10, but nearly outside the top 15.

Stroud, who became the fifth rookie in league history to throw for 4,000 yards in their first season, was sandwiched between Detroit’s Jared Goff (82 overall) and Green Bay’s Jordan Love (81 overall).

Naturally, fans weren’t happy with the results.

It would be one thing to argue that Stroud’s inexperience warrants a lower ranking, but EA Sports listed San Francisco’s Brock Purdy as a top-10 passer. Few can insist that Purdy hasn’t shown promise since taking over in the Bay Area, but he’s also been blessed with arguably the league’s top defense and a cast of All-Pro weapons.

Entering Year 2, Stroud has one of those thanks to the additions of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and former All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs, but remember that he made history with eight different offensive line combinations and a lackluster run game.

On top of that, the Texans’ defense was hit-or-miss most of the season, especially in the secondary. Twice last season, Stroud led comeback drives to secure victories and plant Houston at the top of the AFC South rankings.

Without Stroud, the Texans would have remained an underwhelming franchise with a lack of direction at the most essential position for success.

Could the same be said for the 49ers with Purdy, who graded out with an 85 overall ranking?

Could the same be said for Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, who ranked eighth at 86 grade?

How about Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa or Dallas Dak Prescott, who each ranked in the top six with an 88 overall grade or higher?

Stroud, who didn’t play in Thursday’s 21-17 loss against the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame game, likely has other things on his mind as the Texans prepare for Week 1.

Fans, however, have ample time to complain about the egregious decision made by those who say, “It’s in the game.”

Texans QB C.J. Stroud ranked No. 20 in NFL Top 100 Players of 2024

C.J. Stroud not only impressed the Houston Texans but also showed the NFL he’s here to take over the league moving forward.

C.J. Stroud had a rookie season for the ages in the NFL. The Houston Texans have a new face of the franchise because of his heroics in 2023. 

Entering 2024, Stroud’s peers view him as one of the league’s top players. 

Stroud, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, was listed as the No. 20 overall player in the NFL’s top 100 list that will appear on NFL Network Wednesday evening. He’s now the fourth Texans player to make the list, joining wide receiver Stefon Diggs (No. 56), defensive end Danielle Hunter (No. 68) and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (No. 71).

“Dude came in just balling,” receiver Nico Collins said. “He came in calm, definitely came in collective. He was ready to make an impact.”

Stroud, a two-time Heisman finalist at Ohio State, carried that same mentality over to the Texans after being selected No. 2 overall in 2023. After a rocky debut against the Baltimore Ravens, Stroud began to cook, posting six 300-yard passing performances and eight multi-touchdown outings. 

“You would have never thought he was a rookie,” Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins said. 

“He is not a rookie,” echoed Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl defensive end Cam Heyward. 

In the most significant games, Stroud delivered. He led a 76-yard come drive to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with less than a minute remaining in Week 9. After blowing a lead in Week 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Stroud drove 55 yards in six players to set a game-winning 38-yard field goal for Matt Ammendola. 

“He has a cannon for an arm but can also throw strikes,” said New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis. “His precision pass is with the best of them.” 

En route to helping the Texans clinch their first division title in four years, Stroud became the fifth rookie in league history to throw for 4,000-plus yards. He also led the league in touchdown-to-interception ratio and passing yards per game, becoming the third player to accomplish the feat in league history. 

The other two? Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and G.O.A.T. Tom Brady. 

“He let the fears and the worries of a normal rookie quarterback they go through just go,” Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said. “It was a couple of throws and a couple of plays that he made where it was like, ‘I don’t feel like I’m playing against a rookie.’ “

 

Stroud, who finished with 4,108 passing yards and 23 touchdown passes, threw a career-low five interceptions while posting a 100.8 passer rating, more than likely will be the sixth-ranked quarterback in the top 100.

Dallas’ Dak Prescott, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts and Buffalo’s Josh Allen came in ahead of him at No. 16, No. 15 and No. 12, respectively. 

Baltimore Ravens star and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson should fall in the top 10, as should three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes. It’s clear that even though he’s young, Stroud is already among the best in the game. 

“I think the best is still yet to come for him,” Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins said. 

Will Texans QB C.J. Stroud play in the Hall of Fame Game?

C.J. Stroud likely will not see the field on Thursday in the Hall of Fame Game, but never say never these days, right?

Fans of the Houston Texans traveling to Canton, Ohio, to watch the induction of All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson will also get to see the defending AFC South champs play an extra preseason matchup against the Chicago Bears.

In most circumstances, starters rest in Canton, allowing the newcomers to take center stage for the expanded reps. Then again, DeMeco Ryans is adamant about seeing his team see as much action as possible.

So, will reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud see the field come Thursday evening?

“We’ll see,” Ryans said following Monday’s training camp practice.

Stroud, who took the NFL by storm in 2023 after throwing for over 4,000 yards, doesn’t need the extra reps. He continues to impress in practice throw after throw while working with receivers like Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell and Nico Collins.

Even if he were to see the field, the Texans must be precautious about his playing time. Stroud is the most vital player to Houston’s success if it plans on making it out of the divisional round for the first time in franchise history.

The Texans’ offensive line also at times has struggled running drills against the front seven in practice.

These are reps where the whistle will be blown before any chance of a tackle. That won’t be the case in Canton during live reps.

Even though the game is more of an exhibition matchup, Ryans mentioned that every opportunity to make plays is where Houston must grab by the horns head-on.

“Any time we line up, it’s real. So, for the guys who are out there, it’s important,” Ryans said. “That’s the first thing that we have to understand that all these guys are vying for a spot on this team. They’re vying for a spot – a chance to play in the NFL and make it, so we don’t take it lightly.”

Right now, it’s hard to imagine seeing Stroud anywhere near the action, but fans will have their answer Thursday night.