These guys play hero ball through college, where they are (usually) the best players on the field and can basically do whatever they want. That all changes in the NFL, where 5-yard gains are favored over 30-yard attempts. I think *that's* what he's getting used to. They did not have the book on him in '23 so he was able to shred defenses deep. Now, every defense plays 2-deep because Stroud has not demonstrated he has the patience to carve up a defense 4-6 yards at a time. His best games this year - never mind the opponent - have seen him taking those short gains and staying ahead of the sticks. I think, with the bye, he may have gotten away from that in Seattle and they got him back in-line this past weekend as, again, it was a ball-control offense in which he was completing passes that moved the sticks and kept them in favorable situations. Stroud is young - really young. Hopefully, this is his learning curve and he'll figure it out. Three four-yard completions is a first down. That needs to be the mind set.
