Texans leap over Lions
Offensive coordinator Kelly putting Watson’s genius on full display
After so often coming to this space to bury Tim Kelly, it is a refreshing turn to offer praise for the Texans’ offensive coordinator. What with the evil of Bill O’Brien living on well after the death of his Houston coaching tenure, Kelly has picked up (and earned) collateral criticism for a predictable offense that could be saved only by Deshaun Watson’s brilliance.
But as the season has gone on, Kelly has started to distinguish himself.
Watson is still the star that stirs the drink, the reason the glass is even half full, but the man making the calls and putting the quarterback’s genius on full display is doing something right, too.
For the second time in four days, the Texans’ offense showed up early and — even without a running game — proved difficult to stop.
Houston pounded the Lions 41-25 on Thursday, posting a season-high point total in improving to 4-7 on the season.
A flaring flea-flicker that went for a 34-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter was the play that stood out the most from among a number that garnered huge chunks of yardage against the woeful Lions.
Watson handed the ball to Duke Johnson, who appeared to be trying to turn the corner around right end, before suddenly throwing the ball back to Watson.
Turning quickly, as if he were making a relay throw on a baseball diamond, Watson found Will Fuller running wide open up the left side.
While the execution appeared flawless, Johnson told Watson before the play that if the defense got penetration, he was going to keep the ball instead of pitching it back. He gave it some thought, which stretched the play out beyond where it was supposed to go.
Johnson went so far with the ball that Watson screamed his name to encourage him to make the toss. Turned out to be a beautiful design.
It doesn’t matter whether Kelly came up with the play, or drew it up in the dirt, it was his call. He deserves applause.
It’s his offense, his players, making game-winning plays.
Texans interim head coach Romeo Crennel said he didn’t even know the name of the play. He was simply informed that it was coming, and he was happy to see it.
Kelly had a couple other trick plays in the game plan, and even called them, but Watson checked out of them because he didn’t see the preferred defensive alignment.
Interesting, in O’Brien’s seventh season, seven games after he is no longer the head coach, the Texans seem to have the innovative offense they hired him to install in 2014. (Side note: O’Brien was trending on Twitter during the game, presumably because of the many posts about how thankful fans are that he is no longer with the Texans.)
Part of that is Watson’s continued growth.
Watson, who completed 17 of 25 passes for 318 yards with four touchdowns and no turnovers, is having the best season by a quarterback in Texans’ history.
Yep, give Kelly some love for that as well. He has put his quarterback in position to make plays.
Watson has been incredible, especially with no running game to speak of, aside from his occasions sprints out of the pocket.
He is throwing the ball on time, anticipating when receivers will break open, and rarely missing a throw. In the past six weeks, he has thrown 15 touchdowns without an interception.
Watson said Kelly’s work has allowed him to take to the field to be a surgeon attacking opponents.
That the Texans have figured out a way to move the ball and score points in the last few weeks is a credit to Kelly working with Watson to determine the best way to attack opponents.
Watson pointed to Crennel’s steady leadership as a factor in the Texans going 4-3 since he took over.
“He’s just letting us play ball and letting the coaches do what they do, letting them call the plays and not interfere with that,” Watson said.
Perhaps Kelly feels freer with total control over the offense under Crennel, as opposed to having playcalling duties go back-andforth between him and O’Brien depending on how the wind was blowing.
Kelly had worked for O’Brien since 2012. O’Brien, a natural hoverer, gave him his big break on the college level at Penn State, and his big break in the NFL with the Texans.
Crennel is just letting him work.
It is nice and calm around the Texans these days. As Watson said, a winner’s energy is much different than a loser’s energy.
The Texans have won three of four games and are starting to feel and look like winners.
To be fair, so is Kelly.