C.J. Stroud exceeded expectations as a rookie and has set a excessive bar for himself and the Texans transferring ahead. It sounds just like the younger star has spent his offseason ensuring he’ll be capable to meet the raised expectations heading into his sophomore marketing campaign.
Throughout a Thursday information convention, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned how Stroud embraced his position because the offense’s undisputed chief throughout Stroud’s first full NFL offseason as a starter.
“I believe C.J. has achieved a very good job this offseason as a frontrunner with regards to working with different guys — figuring out that he’s not simply working by himself however discovering the avenues to get a gaggle collectively and work collectively,” Ryans defined, per Myles Simmons of Professional Soccer Speak. “That’s essential, particularly with regards to timing within the passing recreation for receivers and quarterbacks. They should be in sync. And it exhibits that they see how necessary that was as a result of guys had been working collectively this summer season.”
A report from earlier in July detailed how enjoying within the Snoop Youth Soccer League based by leisure celebrity Snoop Dogg helped Stroud develop traits he flashed en path to incomes Offensive Rookie of the 12 months Award honors this previous winter. It was revealed final yr that Stroud paid for flights and resort rooms to work out with teammates following spring practices regardless that he hadn’t but been named the group’s QB1 at the moment.
Per Professional-Soccer-Reference stats, Stroud completed his first NFL common season ranked sixth within the league with a 100.8 passer ranking and first with a median of 273.9 passing yards per recreation. He tossed 23 landing passes with solely 5 interceptions throughout 15 contests, and he then guided the Texans to the divisional spherical of the playoffs.
On Thursday, Ryans challenged Stroud to “proceed to develop into the chief that we would like him to be” as a second-year professional. Ryans additionally indicated Stroud has already proven he can deal with the excessive expectations many have for the Texans forward of August.
“You see how a lot better he acquired from his first day of camp final yr till our final recreation — how a lot better [he got], you noticed the expansion of him,” Ryans added. “And that’s the identical factor as we come into this season.”
As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Stroud second among the many betting favorites behind solely Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (+475) at +850 odds to win the Most Beneficial Participant Award for the 2024 common season. Stroud might get his fingers on a number of trophies between coaching camp and Tremendous Bowl LIX if he manages to keep away from the dreaded sophomore stoop that always impacts gamers who get pleasure from stellar rookie campaigns.
