Houston Texans: Analyzing C.J. Stroud's 23 preseason dropbacks

28-35 minutes 8/29/2023
C.J. Stroud is officially the Week 1 starter for the Texans. He began taking all the first-team reps in practice on Aug. 5. He started in all three preseason games. But what did the No. 2 overall pick out of Ohio State reveal? What can be expected from the franchise’s fourth opening-day starting quarterback in as many seasons?
Here is a full breakdown of all 23 of Stroud’s preseason dropbacks. We reviewed All-22 film from each preseason game and analyzed how Stroud performs in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense, how he improved, what he learned and what kind of support the rookie can have around him.
Dropback 1
Situation: First and 10 at Texans’ 25, 15:00 left in first quarter
Score: Texans 0, Patriots 0
Personnel: 21 (2 RBs, 1 TE, 2 WRs)
Result: Complete short left to Nico Collins for 8 yards
Summary: This was about as much of a textbook timing throw Stroud could have made for his first pass attempt as a Texan. It’s also fitting that it originated out of 21 personnel. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik likes the flexibility this package affords his scheme. A pass-catching fullback like Andrew Beck (who actually played tight end for the Broncos) essentially allows Slowik to fuse the formations and benefits of 21 personnel and 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs) into a singular package. Beck frequently motions on different plays from the backfield to the line, from the line to the backfield, which can favorably change the shape of the defense for Stroud. Patriots safety Joshuah Bledsoe moved into the box when Beck shifted here. Outside linebacker Jahlani Tavai even pointed back at Bledsoe to ensure they had Beck covered. While two defenders were occupied with Beck, Collins was matched alone on the left with rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who played soft coverage. Stroud recognized this quickly after finishing his three-step drop and hummed his first-ever completion along the sideline.
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C.J. Stroud's first play against Patriots in preseason Video: NFL+
Dropback 2
Situation: First and 10 at Texans’ 36, 13:17 left in first quarter
Score: Texans 0, Patriots 0
Personnel: 21
Result: Sacked for 15-yard loss
Summary: So, all throws are technically “timing throws.” Some just tend to take longer to develop than others, especially if they are aimed to launch deeper. Stroud’s three-step drop on his first attempt indicated a quicker throw. Indeed, all four of his receivers ran 5-yard outs to either sideline. Stroud takes a seven-step drop here. It’s partly notable because Stroud rarely went under center while playing in Ohio State’s shotgun-oriented spread system, and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson said in May that Stroud was “way, way ahead of pace” transitioning to his new techniques. Stroud looks comfortable under center. But he’ll need adequate protection to produce the downfield throws the Texans lacked last season (6.3 yards per attempt, 31st in the NFL). Collins and Tank Dell both ran routes longer than 15 yards. But by the time they made their breaks, defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale had already latched onto Stroud for a sack. Reserve right tackle Austin Deculus was saddled with the sack. Indeed, Ekuale fought through the 2022 sixth-round pick. But No. 2 running back Devin Singletary was in position to help, and his weak shoulder check did nothing to stop Ekuale. Dell made cornerback Jack Jones fall with a double-move to the right sideline (the earliest sign of the third-round pick’s dynamism). That’s potentially a 20-yard gain if Stroud was given time.
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C.J. Stroud is dropped for a loss of 15 yards against the Patriots in the preseason. Video: NFL+
Dropback 3
Situation: Second and 25 at Texans’ 21, 12:33 left in first quarter
Score: Texans 0, Patriots 0
Personnel: 11 (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs)
Result: Stroud scrambles for 4 yards
Summary: There’s a reason general manager Nick Caserio signed left tackle Laremy Tunsil, right guard Shaq Mason and right tackle Tytus Howard to three-year extensions. There’s a reason they’ll all play in the regular season. Perhaps if the backups didn’t struggle as much as they did in New England, the Texans coaching staff wouldn’t have pivoted toward playing their starting offensive line in the two final exhibitions. But they weren’t going to give Stroud reasonable time to grow (or throw) without the protection he’s expected to see in the regular season. George Fant, a training camp pick-up, simply got beat inside playing left tackle against Carl Davis Jr., who chased Stroud out of the pocket on this play. Caserio swapped a fifth-round pick for a seventh with the Cardinals last week to acquire offensive tackle Josh Jones. Howard has been on track to return from left-hand surgery by Week 1, but a starting lineup that featured Fant at right tackle in the last two games has only surrendered three quarterback pressures and no sacks. They may not have to rush Howard back.
Dropback 4
Situation: Third and 21 at Texans’ 25, 11: 51 left in first quarter
Score: Texans 0, Patriots 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Intercepted right by Jalen Mills
Summary: Johnson said “sometimes you’ve got to touch the stove to see that it’s hot.” The 15-yard sack lit the proverbial flame. Quarterbacks don’t tend to thrive on third-and-long. Rookies are prone to force mistakes while trying to make something happen. Stroud had adequate protection against a five-man rush, but he simply didn’t recognize that safety Jalen Mills could make him pay. Stroud actually pump-faked toward Dell along the right sideline before winding up and delivering a throw in that direction. Mills, one of two deep safeties, saw Stroud’s pump and had already reached full speed by the time the ball was thrown. There was not going to be a first-down throw against this two-high safety look following the snap. Both cornerbacks played soft coverage and backpedaled deep. Slowik plugged in safeguards with Shultz and third-down back Dare Ogunbowale both by Stroud in the shotgun. They chipped the edged and peeled for dump-off options. Stroud took neither. He knew he threw carelessly and hasn’t since made such a poor decision. He also hasn’t been in such a situation. The longest third-down situation he's seen since was a third-and-10 against the Dolphins (we’ll get to that). The Texans will want to keep it that way. Davis Mills was 24-of-41 passing for 181 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions on third downs of 10 yards or more in 2022.
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C.J. Stroud throws an interception against the Patriots during the preseason. Video: NFL+
Dropback 5
Situation: Second and 5 at Texans' 23, 8:57 left in first quarter
Score: Patriots 3, Texans 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Incomplete short right to Singletary
Summary: Sometimes a play is just bad all around. Slowik wants to involve running backs more frequently in the passing game, but this ended up being a tough scenario to make that happen. The Patriots blitzed both linebackers in an unexpected six-man rush that left their remaining five defenders in one-on-one coverage. Anfernee Jennings rushed free off the right edge, and Stroud tried to lob a pass over Jennings that glanced off Singletary’s fingertips. Singletary would’ve been clobbered by Bledsoe upon the catch, anyway. The only thing Stroud could possibly have changed here is noticing how middle linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. lurched forward to blitz a second before the snap. That’s the kind of deduction that comes with experience.
Dropback 6
Situation: Second and 9 at Texans’ 39, 8:11 left in first quarter
Score: Patriots 3, Texans 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Complete short left to Steven Sims for 5 yards
Summary: Stroud’s first play-action bootleg was sloppy. But he got the job done on a slick field in a steady rainfall in New England. Stroud slipped initially, but regained his footing and hit Steven Sims on the sideline for a decent gain. The interesting thing here is the number of options Slowik is giving Stroud. By motioning Schultz from right to left, the Texans have three levels of sideline-outs for Stroud to choose from: 1) Schultz parallel to the line of scrimmage, 2) Sims five yards down the field, 3) Dell five yards further. Sims is both the most open and most available option for Stroud, who was hit by defensive end Keion White as he threw. Given a different coverage or different protection, Stroud could’ve chosen differently. Here, he chose the pass that gave the Texans a manageable third-down situation. Options!
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C.J. Stroud completes a pass to Steven Sims against the Patriots during the preseason. Video: NFL+
Dropback 7
Situation: Third and 4 at Texans’ 44, 7:30 left in first quarter
Score: Patriots 3, Texans 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Stroud scrambles for 2 yards
Summary: So, what did the Texans do with that manageable third down? They spread the Patriots out in a shotgun formation Stroud is collegiately familiar with. New England defended Houston’s pass-oriented package with a single-high safety look that defended short-yardage throws in a short-yardage situation with defensive backs pressing their receivers close to the line. Slowik instead appeared to attempt a shot on this play. Collins (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) was manned up with Gonzalez (6-2, 205) on the left edge, and the Texans are believing in Collins to win such matchups. In a perfect pocket, Stroud had an available enough window (even with a single deep safety helping) to give Collins a chance to make a catch 25 yards down field. But defensive tackle Sam Roberts pushed left guard Kenyon Green deep into the pocket. Green prevented a complete collapse. But Stroud could no longer step into a throw toward Collins unless he'd proactively shifted to the right. He made the move too late, and in his desire to run, he missed seeing that Schultz had slipped his defender and was wide open at the Patriots 40. There were questions about Stroud’s lack of off-script throws at Ohio State. Perhaps more experience under pressure will teach him how to make impromptu magic.
Dropback 8
Situation: Third and goal at Dolphins’ 6, 13:09 left in first quarter
Score: Texans 0, Dolphins 0
Personnel: 21
Result: Incomplete short left to Beck
Summary: A week after Slowik complimented Stroud for not drawing any pre-snap penalties within the offense’s myriad motions, the rookie made a critical error in a crucial situation against the Dolphins. After a game-opening interception by Denzel Perryman, after two Dameon Pierce runs, the Texans faced third-and-goal at the Dolphins 1. Collins motioned right to left. Stroud motioned Beck from the slot to the backfield. The play clock hit zero. Delay of game. Five-yard penalty. By shifting players frequently, there’s an inherent risk of running out of time. It can be argued Slowik should call something simpler in the face of such pace. It can be argued Stroud should have an eye for the clock and be willing to spend a timeout. Both accepted blame. In the end, it wasn’t an ideal distance for a subsequent play-action toss to Beck, who would’ve been stopped short of the goal line had the pass not fallen out of reach and incomplete.
Dropback 9
Situation: Fourth and goal at Dolphins’ 6, 13:05 left in first quarter
Score: Texans 0, Dolphins 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Incomplete short left to Dalton Schultz
Summary: In a classic What-the-heck-it’s-the-preseason decision to go for it on fourth down, Stroud and Schultz delivered a What-the-heck-was-the-route-again? result. Schultz stopped short. Stroud threw long. Simple miscommunication. It was indeed the preseason. Too soon to think that suggests any long-term pattern. Such gaffes should get shaken out with time.
Dropback 10
Situation: First and 10 at Texans’ 22, 5:23 left in first quarter
Score: Dolphins 7, Texans 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Complete short left to Collins for 7 yards
Summary: Every offensive coordinator will say some variation of how they want to get the ball to their playmakers in space. But there are already interesting case studies of how Slowik plans to accomplish that. The Texans placed just about every position in the backfield in shotgun formations with Stroud. Running backs. Tight ends. Fullbacks. This time, Collins motioned from wide left into the backfield with Stroud and Pierce, then motioned again left horizontally while Stroud appeared to go through a run-pass option read with Pierce then toss a pass that struck Collins on the run. Again, the Texans want to exploit matchups with Collins. This play also revealed why the franchise signed Robert Woods and Noah Brown. Both are historically good run blockers, and they cleared a nice path for Collins on the left sideline.
Dropback 11
Situation: First and 10 at Texans’ 36, 4:09 left in first quarter
Score: Dolphins 7, Texans 0
Personnel: 21
Result: Complete short right to Collins for 14 yards
Summary: Stroud should know where his best matchups are, and this was the first dropback since Stroud’s initial dropback in which he recognized an easy opportunity and quickly seized it. Once again, it was a slant to Collins in soft coverage. Once again, it was in 21 personnel. But the package took a different shape. Beck lined up in the slot, which forced the defense to use a base 4-3 like a nickel package. Of course, the Texans were just 21 disguised as 11; if Beck isn’t a mismatch for the linebacker, the advantages are mostly in Slowik’s flexibility to reach into a deeper bag of plays.
Dropback 12
Situation: First and 10 at 50, 3:33 left in first quarter
Score: Dolphins 7, Texans 0
Personnel: 12 (1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs)
Result: Complete short right to Brown for 14 yards
Summary: This was Stroud’s most transcendent throw yet. In a play-action bootleg that took Stroud 10 yards into the backfield, any throw of deep significance was going to require considerable strength and accuracy. Brown ran a deep crosser parallel to Stroud, and the wideout only had about one yard of separation on his defender. Stroud’s footwork here makes the throw. Stroud and Panthers quarterback Bryce Young train with the same Orange County throwing coach, Taylor Kelly, who helps them understand how to transfer force from the ground to their feet to their arm until the football flies from their hands, and Stroud pushes with his back foot as the ball left his hand on this throw, a perfect bead into Brown’s outstretched hands. The toss requires considerable touch. Too strong, it sails out of bounds.Too weak, it could fall incomplete or worse. Stroud called himself a “ball-placement specialist” at the scouting combine. Throws like that live up to that description.
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C.J. Stroud delivers a strike to Noah Brown against the Dolphins during the preseason. Video: NFL+
Dropback 13
Situation: Second and 13 at Dolphins' 39, 2:18 left in first quarter
Score: Dolphins 7, Texans 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Complete short middle to Schultz for 6 yards
Summary: Sometimes a defense deduces the right way to create pressure, especially in a pass-heavy situation like this one. By blitzing middle linebacker Jerome Baker straight into Fant at right tackle, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah rushed freely. Stroud suddenly had to make a swift choice. Schultz said in training camp that Slowik’s quick answers in the face of pressure often involve the tight end. Schultz was the quick answer here. But this wasn’t just a standard sideline dump-off, the sort that sometimes only net minimal yardage if any at all. It appeared Schultz had a choice on the route. He chopped his feet after a few steps, saw nickel safety Noah Igbinoghene was playing him softly, then turned quickly inside. By then, the ball was already out. That Stroud struck Schultz moving downfield is both a credit to the route and Stroud’s anticipation of where Schultz would be. Such routes will demand Stroud to be precise, both in his throws and his quick-thinking. But they can yield significant yardage, like here, which increased the Texans’ odds of continuing this drive with a more manageable third down.
Dropback 14
Situation: Third and 7 at Dolphins 33, 1:33 left in first quarter
Score: Dolphins 7, Texans 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Complete short left to Woods for 11 yards
Summary: Another spectacular throw by Stroud. The offensive line and Pierce absorbed a five-man rush on a predictable passing down. They’ll have to do that in the regular season. But the beauty of this throw is in Stroud’s fluid flick just as Woods plants his foot on a 10-yard out to the left sideline. By initially setting Igbinoghene up vertically, Woods gave Stroud a nine-yard throwing lane, an open field between the numbers and the sideline. Woods, 31, entered training camp with questions about how effective he’d be in his second full season following an ACL tear. He logged career-lows in yards (527) and yards per catch (9.9) last season with the Titans. This play is promising for two reasons: Stroud can deliver dimes when given the opportunity, and Woods, an 11-year veteran on his fourth team, can still give the rookie those opportunities.
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C.J, Stroud completes a pass to Robert Woods against the Dolphins during the preseason. Video: NFL+
Dropback 15
Situation: Third and 5 at Dolphins’ 17, 15:00 left in second quarter.
Score: Dolphins 7, Texans 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Incomplete short middle to Brown
Summary: Sometimes a defender makes a nice play. Collins and Brown ran a precise tandem route on the right side. Collins began in the slot and cleared a path inside by taking cornerback Kader Kohou deep. Brown cut inside, but cornerback Xavien Howard reacted quickly, dove and jarred the ball loose. Only a quicker throw from Stroud would’ve been complete. But he spent the first four steps of his dropback looking left. He either was reading the routes on that end or holding middle linebacker Jerome Baker in the middle with eyes that didn’t give his eventual intentions away. If Stroud stares Brown down, Baker may have recognized enough to pick the pass. That he didn’t suggests savvy awareness for a rookie.
Dropback 16
Situation: Second and 14 at Texans' 30, 12:21 left in second quarter
Score: Dolphins 7, Texans 3
Personnel: 11
Result: Complete short right to Singletary for 4 yards
Summary: After Green was penalized for being too far downfield on a pass play to start the drive, the Texans found themselves again in a pass-heavy situation. The offensive line safely handled a blitz in a four-man rush, and Stroud quickly decided to throw to Singletary on a short slant. It appeared to be a decision Stroud would make under duress, especially since it was Singletary he targeted. With a clean pocket, other receivers may have found themselves open. Perhaps this is picking nits. But a third-and-10 is still not very manageable. The league average conversion rate on third-and-10 or more was 16.3 percent in 2022.
Dropback 17
Situation: 3rd & 10, Texans 34, 11:35 left in second quarter
Score: Dolphins 7, Texans 3
Personnel: 11
Result: Complete short left to Schultz for 4 yards
Summary: Again, Stroud delivered a checkdown throw with a clean pocket. Davis Mills once quipped, “You can’t go broke taking a profit” after throwing checkdown passes in a December 2021 loss to the Seahawks. In the wide scope of the game, Stroud’s quick toss to Schultz gained 4 yards. That can help with field position. In the narrow view of the game, the Texans still punted. Schultz was wide open. But the Dolphins wanted him to be. A coverage scheme that dropped at least four defenders 10 yards deep pounced on Schultz almost immediately. Maybe more time births more options. Maybe Stroud is deciding to be more conservative in a 7-3 game early in the second quarter. Maybe he won’t be again.
Dropback 18
Situation: Second and 5 at Texans’ 45, 2:00 left in second quarter
Score: Dolphins 14, Texans 3
Personnel: 11
Result: Incomplete short right to Collins
Summary: This was the only pass Stroud has thrown to date that seemed to involve bad timing. And it’s notable that it once again involves Collins in soft coverage. Stroud once again had a clean pocket. He turned right and planted his feet, almost as if he were certain Collins would be open on the slant as he had been before. But Eli Apple, a former first-round pick and starter-for-hire for his fifth team in eight seasons, broke quicker on the ball. It seemed as if Stroud had already made his decision and just committed to the throw. He even threw the ball beyond Collins’ back shoulder to ensure it wasn’t picked. Again, maybe time berths more options. Pass protection is affording Stroud to make decisions. If there must be a larger conclusion to draw here, it’s a rookie learning a game’s tendencies and how a play that was once there won’t necessarily be there again.
Dropback 19
Situation: Third and 5 at Texans’ 45, 1:57 left in second quarter
Score: Dolphins 14, Texans 3
Personnel: 11
Result: Incomplete deep left to Brown
Summary: Was impromptu magic foreshadowed? In Stroud’s most deft dodge yet, he pirouetted left, causing blitzing linebacker Malik Reed to stumble. Stroud effectively wheeled into a play-action rollout. He had an entire sideline to buy time. He spun a spiral that burrowed through a sliding Brown’s open hands, caromed off the wideout’s chest and struck the ground incomplete. Again, this is a precarious group of pass-catchers. Robert Woods has more career catches (623) than all the other wideouts under contract combined (548). Brown didn’t log more than 33 percent of his offense’s total snaps until last season, his final and fifth year with the Cowboys. Will this unit make the catches to maximize spectacular throws?
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C.J. Stroud throws incomplete to Noah Brown on a deep ball against the Dolphins during the preseason. Video: NFL+
Dropback 20
Situation: Second and 7 at Texans’ 23, 11:28 left in first quarter
Score: Texans 0, Saints 0
Personnel: 21
Result: Incomplete deep left to Collins
Summary: The question continued in New Orleans. Two of Stroud’s most impressive throws of the preseason fell incomplete. On the first, Stroud liked his matchup with Collins and Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (6-1, 199) along the left sideline. After former Texans safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. moved to cover Dameon Pierce in the slot, Stroud recognized Collins had a one-on-one opportunity deep downfield. Stroud unfurled his longest pass of the preseason. It soared 45 yards in the air, spearing downward advantageously just beyond Collins’ left shoulder. Collins extended his arms. Taylor chopped the ball loose from behind. “Dime. Dime. That was a dime,” Collins repeated in the locker room later. “That just shows you where his mindset is, man. Got to be ready to take the top off a defense. There’s going to be a lot of that this year.” It’s partly why the Texans drafted Stroud. In his final season at Ohio State, Stroud was 31-of-61 passing for 1,082 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions on throws of 20 yards or more, according to Pro Football Focus, an average of 17.7 yards per attempt.
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C.J. Strouds's deep balk to Nico Collins is broken up against the Saints during the preseason. Video: NFL+
Dropback 21
Situation: Third and 7 at Texans’ 23, 11:20 left in first quarter
Score: Texans 0, Saints 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Incomplete deep left to Woods
Summary: As discussed in Dropback 7 (and somewhat in Dropbacks 16 and 17), this play displayed what Stroud can do when he first looks to pass before dedicating a scramble to the run. He leveraged his extreme precision on a third-down situation in which he was unlikely to pick up a first down by running. Starting right guard Shaq Mason fell while blocking Saints defensive end Tanoh Kpassahnon and somehow avoided a holding penalty in steering him toward the left side of the pocket. Stroud sidestepped, scrambled, then zipped a 17-yard pass that clipped Robert Woods’ hands as he dove near the right sideline. It would’ve been a fine catch to tribute a remarkable throw. But as discussed in Dropbacks 19 and 20, the Texans will need this receiving corps (especially Woods) to make such catches to elevate the success of the team. The drive ends with a punt instead.
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C.J. Stroud throws incomplete on a deep ball to Robert Woods against the Saints during the preseason. Video: NFL+
Dropback 22
Situation: Third and 2 at Saints’ 35, 9:16 left in first quarter
Score: Texans 0, Saints 0
Personnel: 11
Result: Complete short right to Schultz for 13 yards
Summary: Schultz was viewed as the top tight end in free agency. He signed a one-year, $6.25 million contract with the Texans (22nd-highest among tight ends, per Over the Cap) because he totaled 198 catches, 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns in his final three seasons with the Cowboys. He hasn’t yet delivered any explosive highlights. But his expertise is subtle. As in Dropback 13, Schultz appeared to have a choice with his route on this third-down situation. Matched up against Alontae Taylor, Schultz first began a 5-yard out to the right sideline, then quickly whirled 180 degrees back to the middle of the field. Stroud struck Schultz for a first down. It was a considerably impressive route in which Schultz (6-5, 244) slyly outmaneuvered a cornerback. Stroud will need separation from a target who’ll often be his security blanket.
Dropback 23
Situation: Second and goal at Saints’ 3, 7:22 left in first quarter
Score: Texans 0, Saints 0
Personnel: 21
Result: Complete short left to Collins for a 3-yard touchdown
Summary: The Texans spent two seasons waiting for two inefficient run-oriented schemes to finally open the offense in the way their play-callers intended. In fairness, Tim Kelly and Pep Hamilton did not have this team’s talent. But Bobby Slowik is making use of it. Dameon Pierce punished the Saints on four carries for 27 yards on this drive, which gave Stroud a favorable scenario with a defense prepared to defend the run near its goal line. This one was simple. Collins was split right. Woods left. Both were in single coverage and crossed each other in the middle of the end zone. Collins went under, gained a pick from Woods, and Stroud struck him easily for his first preseason touchdown pass. Preseason over. “Gotta respect the run game,” Collins said.