Texans QB C.J. Stroud no ordinary rookie, already in elite company

BEREA — Rookie quarterbacks get careless and throw interceptions.Not Houston's C.J. Stroud.The No. 2 pick out of Ohio State was intercepted only five times in 499 passes, the best percentage in the NFL. No wonder he's the overwhelming favorite to be NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year."Has command that goes beyond usually the scope of a rookie," Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said Wednesday. "Decisive with the ball, accurate passer, buys some time, makes big plays down the field."The fact that he's passed for as many yards as he has without turning the ball over is really impressive for a young guy. Usually the cost of doing business if you're going to throw a lot of yards is you also turn the ball over a lot. It's been impressive what he's been able to do."Grant Delpit designated to return from IR, will practice todayThe Browns are gearing up to face Stroud for the first time Saturday in Houston during the wild card round of the playoffs. He was inactive for Cleveland's 36-22 win Dec. 24 in Houston, missing the second of two games with a concussion. He returned to win the final two games and lead the Texans to the AFC South title.In 15 games Stroud went 9-6 and completed 63.9 percent for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and a 100.8 passer rating. He joined San Francisco's Joe Montana in 1989 and New England's Tom Brady in 2007 as the only quarterbacks in the last 50 years to lead the league in yards per game (273.9) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (4.6)."Definitely where I want to be is up there with those guys at the end of my career," Stroud told reporters in Houston. "Every year that I can go out there and prove myself and put good things on tape and protect the football or do things like that, I think that's a good thing for the Texans."It's just really cool to see those great names next to mine, but I know I have a lot more to do in my career and I want to do a lot more, so my head is down, just working. Just want to do more."Why was Joe Flacco available? He has theories … and can handle breakfast for five kidsThe yards rank third all time for a rookie behind Andrew Luck and Justin Herbert, his rating is also third for a rookie and he's the youngest player in league history to lead in TD-to-INT ratio."Just decision-making," cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. said. "He doesn't play as an ordinary rookie. He went top two for a reason, arguably he could've went No. 1."He's a good player. He's also a rookie, so we've just got to do our job and force him to make mistakes that he hasn't made all year."Schwartz will try to pressure Stroud and confuse him. The Browns were No. 1 in overall defense (270.2 yards) and against the pass (164.7) and tied for fifth in takeaways (28), including 18 interceptions, which tied for third.Joe Flacco knows how to win on road in playoffs — he can become NFL's all-time leader — shares experience with teammates"We're going to have to play tight coverage," Schwartz said. "We're going to have to stay after him in the pass rush. We're going to have to limit run after the catch because he does a good job of giving his guys opportunities to run after the catch, including Nico Collins. That's one of the things he does best."Stroud aims to be the 11th rookie quarterback to win a playoff game, according to ProFootballNetwork.com. San Francisco's Brock Purdy won two last year.Joe Flacco won two for the Ravens after the 2008 season, including beating Schwartz, who was coordinator of the Titans. Schwartz said whether a rookie is affected by the playoffs depends on the individual."Just could never make him make a mistake," he said of Flacco. "So I'm glad Joe's on our side and I'm glad history's sort of on the other side."Stroud's ability to avoid interceptions stands out further when compared to what Flacco's done in his remarkable run with the Browns. He's 4-1 as a starter with 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns but has thrown eight interceptions in 204 attempts."He's been really impressive just from afar in terms of his decision-making and you can tell he can throw the ball," Flacco said.Analysis: Browns' preparation for Texans should start with these six playersLinebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah doesn't think Stroud being a rookie will "affect his play at all," and Stroud has listened to the advice of Texans veterans."Just be yourself is what they always tell me," he said. "I've played in playoff games before, big games. The less that you put pressure on yourself, I feel like the more you just execute and do your job. That's when good things happen."Stroud is 6-foot-3, 218 pounds and showed he can throw it deep and accurately with a 75-yard touchdown to Collins on Houston's first play last week in a must-win vs. the Colts. Collins is Stroud's top target with 80 catches for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns, and the receiving corps has been hit with injuries. Tank Dell is out for the year, Robert Woods (hip) returned to practice Wednesday in a limited role and Noah Brown (back) hasn't practiced this week.#Browns CB Denzel Ward on #Texans QB C.J. Stroud, a fellow Buckeye. pic.twitter.com/oGxkfyd1Su— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) January 10, 2024https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe Browns have high confidence in Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II and Emerson at corner, but Stroud will test them by extending plays. He doesn't love to take off as a runner — 39 attempts, 167 yards, three touchdowns — but showed he will in the most important games, rushing for 34 yards in a playoff loss to Georgia in his final game at Ohio State."He's going to do whatever it takes to win, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him run a couple times come Saturday," Emerson said."C.J. is not just the best rookie quarterback, he's one of the best quarterbacks in the whole, entire NFL," Newsome said. "So he presents a lot of challenges for us, but I think we're up for the challenge."The post Texans QB C.J. Stroud no ordinary rookie, already in elite company first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.