The Houston Texans were hoping for a strong start to their preseason.
It was the NFL debut for second-overall draft pick C.J. Stroud, but it did not go as planned.
Facing a stout Bill Belichick-led defense, Stroud could not get anything going.
He went 2/4 with 13 yards and one interception.
Also, he rushed two times for six yards.
It was an underwhelming debut but that is what the preseason is for.
No one expected Stroud to come out and light up the scoreboard in his first start.
Colin Cowherd is not the least bit worried about this start for Stroud.
On his show, he said: “Facing Belichick as a rookie is like teaching your kid how to drive in New York City.”
"Facing Belichick as a rookie is like teaching your kid how to drive in New York City."
— @ColinCowherd doesn't take much from C.J. Stroud's Texans debut pic.twitter.com/W82HtUGzUZ
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) August 11, 2023
Even though he was facing most of the Patriots’ backups, Cowherd mentioned how their defense is always well-prepared.
Belichick is far too good of a coach to not have each player on his defense understanding their roles.
Much better days should be ahead for Stroud.
This will not be the first time Stroud struggles as a rookie.
He has a full regular season ahead of him with teams that will be looking to make his life miserable.
The Texans have not had much success with quarterbacks in recent years.
That is why they are hoping Stroud will prove he is the right man for the job.
It will be interesting to see how he improves from his first preseason game to his second.
He was selected second overall for a reason, but the Texans’ coaching staff must help get the best out of him.
NEXT: C.J. Stroud Shares His Thoughts After First NFL Start
