With the 2-2 start to the NFL season, the Houston Texans have shown potential improvement with shining players such as Tank Dell, Nico Collins, the third overall pick Will Anderson Jr, and the second overall pick CJ Stroud. In the week three matchup against division rival Jacksonville Jaguars, which they beat 37-17, Stroud showed NFL fans that he is willing to stand tall in the pocket and make full-field reads.
In this game, he also displayed the willingness to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs. Perhaps the most impressive trait Stroud has shown is his accuracy. He may not have the strongest arm but he can place the ball where he wants, whether over the middle of the field or down the sideline. To start his rookie campaign, Stroud has thrown for 1,212 yards, the third most of all time for rookie quarterbacks. On top of that, he has thrown for six touchdowns and zero interceptions through four weeks.
Prior to being drafted by the Texans, many compared his game to another Texas quarterback by the name of Dak Prescott, and I agree. They are both pure pocket passers who can make full-field reads and make plays outside the pocket when they need to. Like Prescott, Stroud has the ability to place the ball wherever he wants despite his arm not being elite. The Ohio State alum also has really good footwork for a rookie, he is able to get lined up to his targets, put all his cleats in the ground and throw the football efficiently.
Third-year wide receiver Nico Collins and rookie wide receiver Tank Dell have also shown themselves to be the top two receiving options on the Texans. Nico and Tank have had similar stats to start off their seasons, with Tank having two touchdowns and 16 receptions for 267 yards and Nico having three touchdowns and 22 receptions for 428 yards. After looking at the film, Dell appears to be the clear number one receiving option.
The new Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, who comes from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, has helped bring a new identity to this young team. The defense has its issues, but Anderson Jr. has been the bright spot. The edge rusher out of Alabama has one sack and 15 tackles to start his rookie season. He has flashed a lot of potential as a run defender and is a decent pass rusher. However, he does not have great bend around the edge compared to other top-drafted edge rushers like Myles Garrett or Von Miller. Anderson is a bit underweight for his position but he makes up for it with speed, power, and good technique.
As the season progresses, it is fair to assume the Texans will lose a lot of games since the rest of their defense is not that good yet. In the future, the Texans front office will build a more solid defensive line around Anderson and build a strong secondary. As the Texans continue to grow in the future, fans should envision Stroud becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the league along with Houston becoming one of the best teams in the league.
