I have been known to bash any NFL team that drafts an Ohio State University quarterback in the first round, and that includes the Houston Texans when they drafted CJ Stroud. After two weeks in the NFL, and without four out of five starting offensive lineman, I think I’m ready to admit that I was wrong about CJ Stroud.
Look, I’m a Miami Dolphins fan that has been dealing with the discourse and back and forth with Tua Tagovailoa for the last four years. It’s exhausting, so any chance I get to make fun of another team’s quarterback, I’m going to do it. The Texans also traded what seemed like a never ending supply of first round picks for Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills to my favorite team, so I again, was not going to miss out on the opportunity to make fun of the Texans. I’m not afraid to admit that.
However, CJ Stroud is not Justin Fields, nor is he even remotely close to Justin Fields. He’s not Cardale Jones, Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, Dwayne Haskins (R.I.P.), or any other Ohio State quarterback that never made a difference in the NFL.
CJ Stroud might just be good at football. I think I’m ready to admit that I was wrong about him. He had no time to throw the ball in a Shannahan type of system where it is designed to make the quarterback’s life easy. The offense is made for quick, short throws in open space in order to let the athletes make plays and get chunk yards. It’s pretty hard to accomplish that when CJ Stroud doesn’t even have over a second of time to throw the ball, yet, he does stuff like this against the Colts.
CJ didn’t have much time to get the ball out, but got it to an athlete in space and let Tank Dell make the play. This is exactly what you want to see out of this type of offense, minus the fact that the offensive line nearly got him killed all game long.
Look, I may be wrong, and I paid more attention to the cover as opposed to the book, but CJ Stroud might be good at football. I think I’m ready to admit that I was wrong about CJ Stroud.
