At the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, C.J. Stroud demonstrated his quarterback strength. This is a significant reason why he recently joined the Houston Texans.
After weeks of speculation as to whether Houston would recruit a defensive player or even trade out of the No. 2 pick, the Texans selected C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick on draft night, which came as a bit of a surprise. Instead, Stroud joins the Texans and will attempt to turn the team around.
Many will cite Stroud’s performance against Georgia in the College Football Playoff, in which he displayed athleticism and playmaking ability outside the pocket, as the primary reason he was selected so early on Thursday.
After all, Stroud’s athleticism was perhaps the greatest question mark in his evaluation. Was he more of a relic, a vintage pocket passer? Or could he generate more original ideas?
Stroud’s performance against the Bulldogs in a losing effort was a resounding response to this query. And Stroud has demonstrated this countless times on film.
Against Maryland, deliver this vertical pass along the right sideline to Marvin Harrison Jr. A throw in which Stroud places the ball in the ideal location to defeat tight coverage and a very talented cornerback in Deonte Banks approximately 25 yards downfield.
Another illustration is this slot fade to Harrison against Indiana, where the wide receiver operates from the left slot. Harrison must make a difficult adjustment to the ball, which makes this throw appear off-target at first glance.
However, when you consider the leverage of the underneath defender running with Harrison and the safety playing over the top, it becomes clear why Stroud placed this pass where he did.
When analyzing Stroud, his ability to position throws and shape passes around defenders and their leverage stands out. This crossing route against Penn State is a perfect illustration of the concept.
C.J. Stroud must fit this pass around a linebacker diving into underneath coverage from a pre-snap blitz alignment.
This completion to Harrison in the first quarter of this season’s game against Michigan is perhaps the finest illustration of his accuracy and creativity.
Early in the game, with the Buckeyes facing a 3rd-and-1, Stroud backpedals to avoid pressure and generates a back-shoulder completion to Harrison, positioning the ball in the ideal location.
Throughout the draft process, it was common to state that “Stroud could not have placed some of his passes in a better position if he had simply walked down the field and handed them to the receiver.”
While compiling this article, I read the remainder of Stroud’s Indianapolis remarks, and one particular point stood out. The second question inquired whether he had met with the Texans and, if so, how that meeting went.
“Yes, sir. I was able to meet everyone in their front office and we had a wonderful conversation. They asked me some questions, and I feel like I did a great job in the interview process with them; I look forward to getting to know them better and developing a relationship with them.
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