Taylor simply makes team better
HOUSTON — The last time quarterback Tyrod Taylor played at NRG Stadium, he authored one of the best performances of his 11year career.
If the Texans are going to beat rookie quarterback Zach Wilson and the Jets for a second consecutive victory, Taylor has to throw the ball more effectively and efficiently than the past two games against Miami and Tennessee.
Coach David Culley, offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and passing game coordinator/quarterback coach Pep Hamilton need for Taylor to play the way he did in the first two games before he suffered a hamstring injury that curtailed his season.
Back on Sept. 12, the Texans sold 68,105 tickets for the first game of the season against Jacksonville. With veteran coach Urban Meyer and rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence making their NFL debuts, the Jaguars were favored, but they got hammered.
Taylor led the Texans to a 27-7 halftime lead and made it 34-7 in the third quarter before the Texans took their foot off the pedal in Culley’s first game. The 37-21 victory got fans excited about the season even though they were projected to be one of the league’s worst teams.
And they have been with a 2-8 record.
But there was good reason for that first-game excitement, beginning with Taylor. He completed 21 of 33 for 291 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t throw an interception or lose a fumble. He was sacked once, and his rating was 112.1.
Taylor’s impressive performance included 40 yards rushing on four carries, including a 29-yard run.
The exhilaration over Taylor’s performance continued the next Sunday when the Texans played at Cleveland, where the heavily favored Browns were coming off the divisional round of the playoffs and
had Super Bowl aspirations.
In the first half, Taylor connected on 10 of 11 for 125 yards and a touchdown. He protected the ball perfectly again. He also contributed a 15-yard touchdown run that made it 14-14 at halftime.
But the hamstring injury landed Taylor on injured reserve and forced him to miss six starts. He watched from the sideline and played the role of an assistant quarterback coach helping rookie Davis Mills.
Since returning from injured reserve, Taylor hasn’t been the accurate passer he was before the injury.
In his first two games, Taylor completed 70.5 percent and fashioned a 122.9 rating.
In the past two games against the Dolphins and Titans, Taylor has completed 56.7 percent and compiled a 52.3 rating.
Having three backup offensive linemen and the NFL’S worst running game might have something to do with it.
In the loss to Miami and the victory over Tennessee, Taylor completed 38 of 67 for 347 yards without a touchdown pass. He threw three interceptions against the Dolphins. He ran for
two touchdowns and didn’t commit a turnover in the upset at Nashville.
Even though Taylor didn’t make excuses about his play at Miami, it was obvious he was rusty from inactivity. In a persistent thunderstorm at Tennessee, Taylor wasn’t accurate, but he also was careful with the wet ball, preferring to throw it in the mud rather than try to force it to a wellcovered receiver.
One of Taylor’s most impressive traits is his intelligence. Another is his mobility. He’s a smart runner. He doesn’t take off when pass rushers are bearing down on him unless he can’t find an open receiver and has no other alternative.
Taylor’s 7- and 5-yard touchdown runs against the Titans are perfect examples. On the first one, he waited to see if a receiver was open, and when he didn’t see one, he took off around the left side. He flipped into the end zone when safety Amani Hooker drilled him at the goal line.
On the second touchdown, once again Taylor tried to find a receiver. When he couldn’t, he took off to the left side and zeroed in on the pylon before diving into the end zone to give the Texans a 19-0 lead.
After the game, Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel and defensive players like tackle Jeffery Simmons and safety Kevin Byard gave props to Taylor, particularly his mobility.
Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly’s game plan called for Taylor to take short drops and get rid of the ball fast. He also rolled out to avoid the rush and either threw on the run or took off for yards. He had 28 yards on six carries.
Subtract Taylor’s performance against the Dolphins when he was knocking off the cobwebs, and he hasn’t thrown an interception in his other three games. He also has three touchdowns rushing.
First-year Jets coach Robert Saleh, a former Texans assistant who has a defensive background, will develop a game plan with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich that tries to keep Taylor in or close to the pocket. If their players aren’t disciplined enough to set the edge, Taylor will make them pay.
Watching Taylor in 3½ games and Mills in 6½, it’s obvious how much Taylor’s mobility, experience and intelligence benefit the offense and make the Texans a better team.
Culley says beating the Jets is the only thing that matters to the Texans this week. If Taylor helps them achieve that goal, he deserves to keep starting over Mills for the rest of a homestand that includes games against the Colts and Seahawks.