Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud Reveals Secret Behind Mistake Free Start

Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud credited coaches past and present for his ability to avoid throwing interceptions.

The new era of Houston Texans football, headlined by head coach DeMeco Ryans, edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., and quarterback C.J. Stroud, is off to a promising start.

The two first-round picks have played well and Houston went on the road to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 37-17 for its first win of the season.

For the first time, it feels like the Texans successfully hit the reset button.

Perhaps part of that sentiment is the lack of lowlights. Sure, they are 1-2, but nobody expected an exceptionally competitive season. This year was about setting the foundation for the future of Houston football, and as a result, finding things to get excited about.

One such reason for optimism is Stroud’s avoidance of interceptions.

Through three weeks, he’s thrown for 906 yards, four touchdowns, and (again) zero interceptions. He’s ripped off throws with the same aggression that he boasted at Ohio State and looks like a legitimate pocket passer.

He hasn’t been coddled either. The Texans are dealing with a plague of injuries to their offensive line and his average air yards per attempt (8 yards) ranks 15th amongst 34 qualified passers.

Stroud spoke on Wednesday about his ability to limit turnovers.

Stroud rolls out against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Courtesy of USA TODAY / © Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

“Our first team meeting, DeMeco, his big point was to protect the team,” Stroud said. “And my first drive in a Texans uniform I threw an interception … Lick your wounds. If it’s there, rip it, if not, check it down, play smart. I learned from that moment.”

That aforementioned pick, from the first preseason game against the New England Patriots, had fans worried. In the notoriously objective department of “vibes,” Houston was failing.

Stroud has shown signs of improvement since that ill-advised throw. He currently ranks 10th in passer rating (98) and ninth in average net yards per attempt (6.77). He looks good, but this isn’t exactly new. There’s a reason he was the 2nd overall pick.

“In college, Coach [Ryan] Day definitely held me to a standard because he knew I could see the game well,” Stroud added. “I can see coverage, I could anticipate really well, and he always told me, ‘You have what it takes to not throw interceptions.’”

So far, so good. Stroud’s interception-less streak won’t last forever, but the mere prospect of a rookie coming in and avoiding disaster is encouraging. To flourish, like he did in Jacksonville, makes it even sweeter.

He’ll have a tough test on Sunday against a lauded Pittsburgh Steelers’ pass rush that promises to bring pressure. If the Texans are going to continue to beat teams with loftier expectations, Stroud’s propensity for protecting the football must continue.