The next step
IT ALL BEGINS WITH BETTER QB PLAY IF TEAM IS TO ASCEND FROM 9-7 AND INTO LEAGUE’S ELITE
Texans’ season will be measured by advancing deeper in the playoffs.
» The Texans finished 29th in total offense in 2016 — ahead of only the Jets (who finished 5-11), the Browns (1-15) and the Rams (4-12). One bright spot on the offense last season was Lamar Miller. In his first Texans season, the running back cracked 1,000 yards for the second time in his five-year career, finishing with 1,073 (which was good for 10th-best in the league). His rushing attempts were a career best — good for sixth in the NFL.
The Texans have been remarkably consistent in Bill O’Brien’s three seasons as coach. They’ve finished 9-7 each season, and they’ve had issues at quarterback that have yet to be settled. If the Texans hope to improve on their 9-7 record and win the AFC South for a third consecutive season and the fifth time in seven years, they’ll have to get better play at quarterback. The one thing the Texans can count on is a defense that finished first and welcomes back end J.J. Watt, who was healthy as they started 2-0. The offense, particularly the passing game, have to improve. The Texans were 29th in offense, including 29th in passing. Only the New York Jets were worse in the red zone. Quarterback Tom Savage, entering his fourth season and a contract year, has to hold off the challenge of rookie Deshaun Watson, the first-round pick coming off a national championship at Clemson. Savage knows O’Brien’s system. Unlike his predecessor, Brock Osweiler, Savage can handle O’Brien’s hard coaching. Savage is 1-1 as a starter. He has no touchdown passes or interceptions. He’s been injured in each of his first three seasons.
Watson had an excellent offseason program and was ahead of schedule from where the coaches thought he would be as a rookie learning a new system.
O’Brien says the competition between Savage and Watson has made both of them better.
“I don’t think there’s any question about that,” he said. “Those guys are competitive. They’re both good. Brandon’s (Weeden) in there, too. I think that whole room is very talented. Great guys. (They) root for each other. They’re making each other better. There’s no doubt about it.”
The Texans must get better production and more consistency at quarterback. They can’t have another season like 2016 when Osweiler threw 15 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. He threw three more interceptions in the playoffs in the Texans’ divisional-round loss at New England.
Receiver DeAndre Hopkins is one of the best in the league. They have to overcome the loss of receiver Will Fuller, who suffered a broken collarbone in camp and will miss the early part of the season.
They finished eighth in rushing. In O’Brien’s first three seasons, they’ve run the ball more than any team in the league. That philosophy won’t change because they added D’Onta Foreman to go with Lamar Miller, who reached 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his career.
Loaded on defense
If the running game helps the offense control the ball and take some pressure off the quarterback, it’s the defense that will have to dominate under first-year coordinator Mike Vrabel, who coached linebackers the last three years.
Watt, end Jadeveon Clowney and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus give them three bona-fide pass rushers. Inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney was the only player in the league with at least 100 tackles and five sacks and could improve in both statistics.
Second-year nose tackle D.J. Reader has the talent and work ethic to excel between Watt and Clowney. They could have the best defensive line in the NFL.
With veteran Brian Cushing, McKinney and Mercilus, the defense has three proven linebackers. Brennan Scarlett, playing in his second season, has the inside track to replacing John Simon at the other outside spot.
The Texans believe their front seven could be special.
“We have a great group, some very talented guys,” Watt said. “We’re always having fun. That’s what I missed most last year. You don’t get to be around that. Being back is a blast.
“We’ve got some phenomenal pass rushing ability. To see the talent we have and the ability to put it on the field at the same time and to come from different angles, it’s going to be really special.”
Two starters, cornerback A.J. Bouye and safety Quintin Demps, have to be replaced in the secondary. Cornerback Kevin Johnson returns from missing much of last season. Cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson are back for their seventh season together.
Andre Hal and Corey Moore are the starting safeties, and there’s a lot of competition at their positions.
With punter Shane Lechler, kicker Nick Novak and snapper Jon Weeks, who have a combined 36 years of NFL experience, the kicking game is in good shape again.