Offensive problems extend beyond red zone
24 trips into opponents’ territory produce only six touchdowns during 0-3 stumble
It is no secret the Texans’ offense has been pathetic in the red zone during their 0-3 start. But it’s not just the red zone that baffles them. When the Texans cross midfield, they fail miserably.
In losses to New England, Tennessee and the New York Giants, the Texans have been in the opponents’ end of the field 24 times, and they’ve scored 11 times — six touchdowns and five field goals.
When they’ve reached enemy territory, the Texans have turned it over four times, including all three of quarterback Deshaun Watson’s interceptions. Watson has been sacked six times, and they’ve committed four penalties.
With an AFC South game at Indianapolis on Sunday, the Texans better figure out four things: how to protect the ball, eliminate penalties, avoid sacks and convert touchdowns in the red zone, or they’ll be lodged deep in the division basement.
Those mistakes — physical and mental — have contributed to the wretched red zone performance. Last season, before Watson suffered his torn ACL, the Texans approached the red zone like children jumping into a swimming pool. This season, they act like the red zone has snakes in it.
Before Watson was injured, the Texans ranked first in the NFL, scoring touchdowns 67 percent of the times they reached the red zone. This season, it’s 36.4 percent, which ranks them 28th.
Coach Bill O’Brien called the plays last season, and he’s calling them again. If it worked last season, it can work this season, but the self-inflicted wounds have been devastating.
Offense starts up front, and the line is coming off a rotten performance against the Giants. If the linemen can’t get their act together, Watson may not last half the season.
Far too much punishment
Watson has been sacked 10 times and hit 32 times. Chew on this: Watson is projected to be sacked 53 times and hit 170 more.
Now, to be fair to the linemen, all of the sacks and hits aren’t their fault, but the majority are, and they have to play better. Much better. Starting Sunday.
The linemen have to protect the Texans’ most valuable commodity, and that’s their 23-yearold quarterback who’s thrown for 695 yards in the last two games because they’ve been forced to play from behind.
“He’s made a lot of improvement,” O’Brien said Wednesday about Watson. “I think he’s done a nice job of getting us into the right play, getting us out of a bad (situations) here and there. He’s made a lot of plays, and I think he’s improved every game he’s played.
“I don’t think it’s just about one guy. Everybody in the organization has to improve. We have to practice better. We have to eliminate mistakes. We’re doing a lot of things to beat ourselves, and we have to stop doing that.”
Remember last season when Watson was a rookie sensation, and the Texans averaged 34 points in his six starts, including 39 in the last five?
Watson threw 19 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. He was sacked 19 times. Now he’s three games into his second season on a team that has a ninegame losing streak, longest in the league.
“I know the offense,” he said. “I feel stronger. I feel comfortable. (I’m) right where I need to be.
“I’m not a big stat guy. Last year, everyone was talking about it (his statistics). I want to win, regardless if we run the ball five times (into the end zone), and I throw for 100 yards. I want the ball in the end zone and this team to win. That’s what I’m about.”
Watson and his teammates know what the problem is on offense, especially in the red zone.
“Penalties (and) negative plays,” he said. “Once you have a negative play or penalties in the red zone, the percentage goes from about 50 percent to 20 percent of scoring (touchdowns). You take that away and execute, and we’ll be fine.
“Just five plays away out of 60 to 70 plays in a game — it could be a different story. You just turn one or two plays around in the red zone, and we’re sitting 3-0.”
A new experience
Watson has lost three in a row for the first time, and he’s learning lessons the hard way.
“Just deal with adversity,” he said. “Try to take the good with the bad and dig down every week to find out what the problem is. It’s really just the details.
“When the tables are turned and we’re 3-0, you wouldn’t be talking about the little details. You’d continue to do the same thing. Once you start losing and you really want to find out what the problem is, it’s the little things we have to take care of.”
They say don’t sweat the little things, but in the Texans’ case, they have to sweat everything.