Ravens Coach Discusses Plan For Stroud

Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver spoke about his plans for welcoming Houston Texans rookie quarterback CJ Stroud to the NFL in Week 1.

“First and foremost, you’re trying to hit him as much as humanly possible,” Weaver said. “Then you’re going to try and confuse them pre-snap.”

Stroud was drafted out of Ohio State with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by Houston, who fully intend for him to be its franchise quarterback going forward. In his final year as a Buckeye, he put up monster numbers, throwing for 3,688 yards and 41 touchdowns while finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting.

He will be one of three rookie quarterbacks making their NFL debuts in Week 1 of the 2023 season along with Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers and Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts.

Weaver, a former player himself, has been a defensive line coach in the NFL since 2012, bouncing between teams. As a player, he played for two teams in his career: the Ravens and the Texans.

Now, he is tasked with introducing Stroud to the “complexity” of NFL defenses. “The complexity of defenses in the National Football League are leaps and bounds of what you’re going to see in college,” Weaver said. “You’re forced to be vanilla because you just don’t have time on task in the college game.”

“Those guys are forced to do so many other things.” Baltimore and its stout defense will be hosting Stroud and Houston in Week 1 on Sunday at 1 p.m.