C.J. Stroud is rocking a 95.7 quarterback rating right now, a number that usually screams “playoff contender,” not “stuck in an 0-4 slump.” Seriously, if you’d shown that stat to fans before the season kicked off, they’d have guessed the team was at least 2-2, maybe even 3-1, heading into the Titans game. So, let’s get one thing straight: this 0-4 streak? It’s hardly Stroud’s fault. His performance has been lights out, and if he keeps these numbers up all season, it’s looking like one of the best quarterback seasons ever for a Texans QB. That’s a huge positive to hang onto, especially when the team record is, well, not.
The Stroud-train Is Rolling, But There’s a Catch
While Stroud’s overall rating is phenomenal, it is not all sunshine and roses when you dive into some of the other numbers for the passing game. He is sitting at a 61.5 percent completion rate. Historically, quarterbacks who run a successful short passing game usually hover around 70 percent. This gap makes you wonder: how much of this is on Stroud, and how much is on the guys around him? We have to dig a bit deeper into who is actually catching the ball and what they are doing with it.
When you look at the primary receivers and their target to catch ratio, plus their success rate (measured in first downs or predicted first downs), a clear picture emerges. Dalton Schultz leads the pack with 27 targets, 21 catches, and a 63.0 percent success rate. Keyshon Boutte also looks solid, grabbing 9 catches on 13 targets for a 61.5 percent success rate. Nico Collins is right there too with 14 catches on 18 targets, hitting 61.1 percent success. Jaylin Noels at 58.3 percent and Foster Moreau at 55.6 percent are also pulling their weight. Even the running backs, Woody Marks and David Montgomery, have been efficient, combining for 14 catches on 16 targets and a success rate over 50 percent.
Two Targets Are Tanking the Passing Game
Here’s where the wheels come off, though. Xavier Hutchinson and Jared Wayne are, without a doubt, dragging down the entire passing game. Combined, these two have seen 38 targets but only reeled in 16 receptions. That’s just brutal. Hutchinson has 26 targets but only 12 catches and a 42.3 percent success rate. Wayne is even tougher to watch, with 12 targets for a measly 4 catches and a 33.3 percent success rate.
Think about this: if you remove those 38 targets and 16 receptions from Hutchinson and Wayne from Stroud’s stat line, his completion percentage would jump significantly, probably getting him much closer to that crucial 70 percent mark that successful short passing game quarterbacks hit. It really highlights how much two specific targets are impacting what could otherwise be an even more impressive performance from Stroud.
So, here we are, 0-4 and heading into a matchup against the Titans. Stroud is clearly doing his part to keep the offense moving, but these issues with catching the ball are undeniable. Can they clean it up? Can the other guys keep balling out and pick up the slack, or will we see some adjustments to who is getting targets? It is absolutely something to keep an eye on as the team tries to turn things around and get their first win.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Battle Red Blog.
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