Texans Daily

Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel: Texans’ C.J. Stroud Has ‘Aura of Confidence’

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is impressed with Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Tim Kelly

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It can sometimes be difficult to follow eccentric Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel as he speaks. But there is little doubt after watching his first season as the team's coach that he's an excellent offensive mind, which makes his thoughts on Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud worth listening to. 

As the Dolphins and Texans continue their joint practices, McDaniel was very complimentary of Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft. 

"I think he is a very natural thrower that has a unique gift at ball placement," McDaniel said of Stroud. 

"He's probably not bragging about ball placement right now because as a rookie NFL quarterback, you're in a foreign language," McDaniel continued. "He looks the part to me with the way he throws the ball, and you can tell that he has an aura of confidence that's exciting to see from a player." 

This week's joint practices will culminate in Stroud and the Texans hosting McDaniel's Dolphins Saturday, in the second preseason game for both squads. Clearly, a Dolphins team that seemingly has one of the most complete rosters in the NFL has higher aspirations in 2023 than the Texans. 

In one of the deepest conferences that the NFL has ever seen, the Texans may be the one team in the AFC that you can count out as potential contenders this campaign. 

But while Stroud will be limited in the skill-position talent he has at his disposal in his rookie season, the Dolphins do offer a potential blueprint for how to quickly build an offensive powerhouse. 

Since drafting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in 2020, the Dolphins have built an elite core of receivers headlined by Tyreek Hill, Jalen Waddle and Cedrick Wilson. Additionally, they've added two productive running backs in Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert. 

If Stroud is indeed as gifted as McDaniel suggests, it will only be a matter of time before general manager Nick Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans surround him with significantly more offensive talent. 

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Tim Kelly
TIM KELLY

Tim Kelly is a contributor to SI's NFL team sites. Additionally, Kelly covers the Philadelphia Phillies as the Editorial Director for PhilliesNation.com. Previously, Kelly has been a producer at SportsRadio 94 WIP and a content producer for Audacy Sports, with written content syndicated to WIP, WFAN, WEEI and some of the biggest sports radio stations in the country. Kelly also has contributed to Bleacher Report, Just Baseball, Sports Talk Philly and Section 215, FanSided's Philadelphia affiliate. Kelly is a 2018 graduate of Bloomsburg University, with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in political science.