Back to the drawing board
O’Brien mum on change in play callers, but Watson’s ceiling brightens future
Like his teammates, quarterback Deshaun Watson cleaned out his locker Sunday, packing a bag with belongings accumulated since the offseason program began almost nine months ago.
As the Texans prepared for vacations after Saturday’s 21-7 loss to Indianapolis that eliminated them in the wild-card round of the playoffs, Watson was heading to Atlanta for Clemson’s third national championship game against Alabama.
Watson played in the first two, and he learned how crushing a playoff defeat can be because the Tigers lost to the Crimson Tide. But he also experienced the euphoria of winning a national title a year later when he threw the game-winning touchdown pass with one second left
to beat Alabama.
The loss to Indianapolis will stick with Watson and his teammates and should motivate them to return to the playoffs next year to make up for Saturday’s embarrassment.
At this time last year, when the Texans were coming off their injury-plagued 4-12 season, Watson’s surgically repaired knee received more attention from fans and media than his right arm.
Other than bumps and bruises — and we’re talking about a lot of bumps and bruises from being sacked 62 times in the regular season and three more times by the Colts — Watson enters the offseason in good physical condition and in a good frame of mind.
And having Watson able to participate in an offseason that doesn’t require rehabilitation puts coach Bill O’Brien in a good frame of mind. The Texans have their franchise quarterback coming off a terrific season, and they don’t have to worry about how he returns from a torn ACL. O’Brien and general manager Brian Gaine need to fix a lot of things — offensive tackle and cornerback, for instance — but they have no worries about Watson.
“That’s a big deal,” O’Brien said about entering an offseason with a healthy franchise quarterback. “You have to have a quarterback, and we have a quarterback. There’s no doubt in my mind that we have the type of person and the type of quarterback you need to win in this league.”
O’Brien and Watson have a terrific relationship. O’Brien helps coach him and calls the plays. Watson could have a new play caller next season.
O’Brien was asked Sunday if he will consider giving up the play-calling duties the way he did in 2015 when he promoted George Godsey to offensive coordinator and let him call the plays. O’Brien didn’t commit either way.
“At the end of every year, we evaluate everything,” he said. “We always try to make the best decisions in the best interest of winning. (There’s) a lot of things to fix, (and) we’ll take a look at everything.”
If O’Brien does give up play calling and doesn’t go outside the organization, keep an eye on tight ends coach Tim Kelly. He’s well thought of within the organization. He was a graduate assistant under O’Brien at Penn State and followed him to the Texans.
Whether it’s O’Brien, Kelly or another play caller, they’ll be working with an outstanding young quarterback who should be even better in his third season and his second as the fulltime starter.
At 23, Watson became the NFL’s first quarterback to throw for at least 4,000 yards (4,165) and 25 touchdowns (26) and rush for at least 500 yards (551) and five touchdowns (five) in one season.
“I think he’s done an excellent job,” O’Brien said. “He’s such a unique guy, an awesome guy to coach. He’s very bright, a great player. He’s an even better person. He made a bunch of strides this year coming off the injury, which is hard to do.
“We’ve got a dynamic player that loves to be in critical situations and loves to have the ball in his hands. I don’t think he has a ceiling. We’re lucky to have him in this organization.”
In leading the Texans to an 11-5 record and an AFC South title, Watson countered his 26 touchdown passes with nine interceptions, none in the last six games of the regular season. He completed 68.3 percent of his passes. He was the Texans’ secondleading rusher behind Lamar Miller and tied Miller for the most rushing touchdowns.
Watson compiled those numbers without his second- and third-favorite receivers for much of the season. Will Fuller (knee) and Keke Coutee (hamstring) combined to miss 19 games because of injuries. Oh, and besides those league-high 62 regular-season sacks, Watson was knocked down another 132 times.
Watson wasn’t as sharp against Indianapolis as he had been in the regular season, completing 29 of 49 passes for 235 yards. He had one touchdown, one interception and a 69.7 rating — down from his season rating of 103.1, sixth best in the NFL.
After the defeat, Watson was asked about not being in sync with his receivers. His answer disclosed how difficult it has been for him, considering how much pressure he’s been under from pass rushers pursuing him from every angle.
“I mean, you’ve got to look at the film,” he said. “The pressure was there. Couldn't step into my throws. It wasn’t where I was sitting there by myself with a full pocket. Guys were in my face, trying to make (me make) throws like that.
“I can’t fully throw — any quarterback, not just me — can’t step into that throw, get their full strength with their lower body. A lot of balls can be low. I mean, that was just it, really.”
No one should be more excited about what’s going to transpire in the offseason than Watson. Gaine and O’Brien will use the draft and free agency to improve the line, especially at tackle.
Fortunately for the Texans, it’s easier to draft and develop offensive tackles than it is to find a franchise quarterback like Watson.