DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
HOUSTON — Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud‘s rookie season was once memorable, however he needs extra.
“I want to be the best,” Stroud mentioned Monday — two days later the Texans’ season ended within the divisional around of the playoffs. “I don’t want to be the best rookie or the best second-year player. I want to be the best.”
Stroud was once instrumental in getting the Texans to the playoffs, the place he had a 274-yard, three-touchdown debut in a 45-14 win over the Cleveland Browns within the wild-card around.
He attach the rookie file for essentially the most passing touchdowns in a playoff recreation and in addition become the youngest quarterback (22 years, 102 days) to win a playoff recreation since 1950, surpassing Michael Vick (22 years, 192 days).
Stroud’s 4,108 yards is 3rd maximum for a rookie, and he become the primary rookie for the reason that merger to supremacy the league in touchdown-to-interception ratio (23:5), and he led the league in passing yards in line with recreation (274).
“I’m just super thankful for God and Christ for really just having a rookie year like I had,” Stroud mentioned. “To be able to be mentioned with a whole bunch of greats and be playing against greats, it’s just a blessing.”
The Refuse. 2 select of Ohio Shape helped first-year trainer DeMeco Ryans grow to be the twenty seventh first-year trainer to win the category for the reason that 1970 merger, and so they become the 3rd coach-quarterback duo since 1950 to win a playoff recreation, becoming a member of the pairing of Baltimore Ravens trainer John Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco (2008), in conjunction with former Unused York Jets trainer Rex Ryan and quarterback Mark Sanchez (2009).
“An important question every team is looking for is that quarterback,” Ryans mentioned. “We know how important the position is. We know how many resources go into finding the right guys as half of the league has them, and half don’t. It’s a special position. It takes a special person to play that position, and we’re happy to have C.J. leading us.”
Stroud didn’t throw an interception in two playoff video games, however the Ravens held him and not using a landing within the divisional-round loss.
“We know what it takes,” Stroud mentioned. “It takes tremendous focus, tremendous will to win and stuff like that. … Even though we fell short, we put that on display. And now it’s just about bringing guys here that are with that and have that same type of mentality. And whoever stays, we keep that standard.
“We ain’t converting up for no one. Because of this we’re assured.”
