Quarterback remains Texans’ top priority
After all the criticism and complaints about the Texans this season, only four teams advanced further in the playoffs.
Considering the disappointing performance of quarterback Brock Osweiler, the loss of defensive end J.J. Watt, the inconsistency of the special teams and the 2-6 road record, to be one of the last eight teams standing is remarkable, to say the least.
Saturday’s 34-16 loss at New England eliminated the Texans from the playoffs, as expected, and magnified some of the problems general manager Rick Smith and coach Bill O’Brien must solve in the offseason.
The most pressing issue is quarterback. Again. With Osweiler, 26, the Texans had the worst passing game of all playoff teams and ranked 29th in the NFL. He threw three interceptions, including
two in the fourth quarter, against the Patriots.
In fairness to Osweiler, he also threw a perfect deep ball that should have been a touchdown, but rookie receiver Will Fuller dropped it.
Still, there’s no disguising the issue at quarterback. The offense scored 23 touchdowns, tied for the fewest in the league, and the Texans finished 31st in the red zone.
The Texans can’t suffer through another season with such a poor performance at quarterback.
Some are calling for offensive coordinator George Godsey to be fired. He’s not the problem. He didn’t go brain dead as a coach during the last offseason.
Godsey was effective
In 2015, Godsey called the plays for four quarterbacks to combine for 28 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. The Texans scored 34 touchdowns. They were tied for 13th in the red zone, scoring touchdowns 57 percent of the time.
No, the problem was the quarterback, not Godsey.
O’Brien needs to open the competition for the starting job next season between Osweiler and Tom Savage and perhaps a newly acquired veteran.
If O’Brien and Godsey see a quarterback in the draft they believe they can develop, Smith must pursue him, including trading up if that’s what it takes.
The fans need hope — not hopelessness — at the most important position on the team. They tried last year with Osweiler, but it didn’t work.
Osweiler isn’t going anywhere, because his cap hit would be $25 million if the Texans cut him, which they won’t do, at least not until 2018, when he would count $6 million against the cap if they part ways.
It’s way too early in the evaluation process to know how the quarterbacks will be ranked after all-star games, the combine, pro days and private workouts or who’ll be available when the Texans make their picks.
The top three quarterbacks are expected to be North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer. Others will emerge as Carson Wentz did last year.
Don’t be surprised if Miami’s Brad Kaaya, Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman and Texas Tech’s Pat Mahomes II come to the forefront.
Help wanted on O-line
In the draft, the Texans’ most pressing need is a right tackle. If Derek Newton returns at full speed, he should be moved to right guard, where Jeff Allen was a disappointment this season.
The new tackle would start on the right side and eventually replace Duane Brown on the left side. Drafting a tackle and getting back Newton and center Nick Martin, who spent his rookie year on injured reserve, should improve the offensive line.
There will be a lot to like about the NFL’s No. 1 defense next season. Coordinator Romeo Crennel must be re-signed.
Imagine how dominant the defensive line can be with Watt and Jadeveon Clowney as bookends around D.J. Reader, who was a nice surprise as a rookie and should be better next season.
In the secondary, cornerback A.J. Bouye is going to be a red-hot free agent if he’s allowed to hit the open market in March. Re-signing him is vital, but he’s going to cost a lot after having an outstanding season.
Cornerback Kareem Jackson should be moved to safety, leaving Bouye, Kevin Johnson and Johnathan Joseph as the top three corners.
Kicker Nick Novak and punter Shane Lechler, both of whom had terrific seasons, should be resigned, too.
Kickers excel
Novak and Lechler kept the special teams from disappointing. The coverage teams were awful too often. The return teams didn’t affect field position. The Texans must do something to improve both areas.
Even though the AFC South was the constant target of criticism around the league, it improved significantly. No team dominated, but only Jacksonville had a losing record.
The Texans have won four of the last six division titles. This season, they advanced one round beyond 2015. Next season, they need to continue that improvement.
Whether they can depends heavily on what kind of offseason they have, beginning with the most important position on the team.