The most-talked about stat for C.J. Stroud through the first six weeks of his NFL career was his lack of interceptions. The Houston Texans’ No. 2 overall pick stretched his pass attempts to 191 before sustaining his first career interception against the New Orleans Saints in a 20-13 victory.
However, as much as interceptions say about decision-making, there is another statistic that also incorporates decision-making along with durability: sacks.
Through six games, Stroud has taken 13 sacks, which are the eighth-fewest among quarterbacks who have started every game since Week 1. Project Stroud’s sacks out to a full season, and the former Ohio State product is on track to take 35.
Contrast that with David Carr, who took a league-high 76 in his 2002 rookie campaign.
Rookies aren’t the only signal callers who have taken a high number of sacks for Houston. In 2018, the Texans’ 16-game starter amassed a league-leading 62 sacks.
While sacks reflect an element of an offensive line’s protection of the quarterback, they can also present a field general’s internal clock and situational awareness. The ball must come out quick; there isn’t time always to survey every progression. Sometimes the correct move is to throw the ball away rather than extend a play, which could conclude with a sack-fumble or interception in tight coverage.
No NFL team wants their franchise quarterback to take undue licks. While sacks are readily available as a figure, they mask a larger figure such as knockdowns. Whatever a quarterback’s sack total is, their knockdown number would have to be at least double on conservative estimates.
Those 62 sacks from 2018 look hideous now.
Stroud has also managed his low sack total while working with a makeshift offensive line. As Stroud and the rest of the offensive line continue to develop cohesion, there should be a better sense of how to avoid incoming pressure.