Smith becoming Watson’s new best friend
Recently hired QB coach arrives with glowing referral from his last high-profile signal caller
Early in the offseason, Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson attended a fundraiser before jetting off on travels that would take him to five countries.
At the event, Watson ran into Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. Watson was curious about Carl Smith, the Texans’ new quarterbacks coach, so he asked Wilson about him.
In January, coach Bill O’Brien hired Smith, who coached the Seahawks’ quarterbacks during Wilson’s first six seasons before becoming associate head coach under Pete Carroll in 2018. Smith helped Wilson ignite the Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowls, including a victory over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII.
“I saw Russell at this event, and he mentioned that Carl’s a great guy,” Watson said Tuesday after the Texans’ second OTA at Houston Methodist Training Center. “Russell said he didn’t
want him to leave and that he tried to get him to stay in Seattle, but Carl made a decision for him and his family.”
Smith, who’s coaching in his 31st NFL season, left Seattle after eight years to join the Texans and be on the same staff as his son, assistant special-teams coordinator Tracy Smith. The move also allowed Smith to be close to his grandkids.
“Russell said, ‘I love Carl,’ and told me I would, too,” Watson said.
Wilson’s respect for Smith got Watson even more fired up about working with him.
“I can learn a lot from Carl with all of his experience,” he said. “He’s got so much knowledge with all the coverages he’s seen and all the different quarterbacks he’s coached. He’ll help me work on my fundamentals.”
Unlike last year when he was undergoing rehabilitation for a torn ACL, Watson can participate in every drill during the offseason. On and off the field, he’s working closely with Smith, O’Brien and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, the former tight ends coach who was promoted by O’Brien.
“Right now, it’s about even with Carl, Tim and OB,” Watson said about the time he’s spending
with his coaches during OTAs. “They meet with me on things I’m trying to improve from last season and things we want to do this season.
“For me, it’s year three. My confidence has always been high, regardless of when I step on the field, (but) it’s a different level of confidence. I have a better understanding of what we want to do around here.”
Part of that understanding is reducing sacks and hits. Even though Watson led the Texans to an 11-5 record and an AFC South title, he was sacked 62 times and knocked down another 132 times. While trying to run for a touchdown in an overtime victory over Dallas, Watson suffered a collapsed lung and a broken rib but continued to play.
One of Smith’s objectives as Watson’s new coach will be to help him reduce the sacks and hits. Better protection from a revamped offensive line as well as pass protectors at other positions should have a profound impact on Watson.
As Watson pointed out Tuesday, sometimes holding the ball gives him time to make plays. He doesn’t like to dump off the ball for a short gain. He prefers to hold the ball and try to avoid the rush until he can locate receivers.
An example of how successful Watson can be when he’s protected is his average of 8.2 yards per attempt, tied with Drew Brees for fourth best in the NFL. Smith’s knowledge and experience should help Watson have a better feel for getting rid of the ball quicker but still being aggressive down the field.
“I guess it depends on the situation,” Watson said. “I tell everyone, and OB tells everyone, as long as I’m in the game and have the ball in my hands, the play’s never over until it’s over.
“There’s times when you can say I held it (too) long. You can say the ball could have gotten out quicker. (But) if I made a good play, you could say he didn’t hold the ball too long. I guess it depends on what the results are.”
And the results could be good as long as Watson’s on the field. He wants his third season to be the best for him and his team.
“He’s worked very hard this spring,” O’Brien said. “He’s improved a great deal in his mastery of our offense — how (it) operates, the communication of our offense. He’s done an excellent job.
“The other area he’s improved on the field against our defense is you have to be ready for all the looks you’re going to get, and he’s done a good job of understanding coverage and blitz schemes better. He really has good command of what’s going on right now.”
And Smith plays a significant role in Watson’s improvement.
“He’s done a good job,” O’Brien said about Smith. “He’s coached forever. He’s seen it all. He’s coached all kinds of good quarterbacks. He brings a calmness to the (QB) room, and he does a good job of teaching.”
In other words, Smith already has become a positive influence on Watson, who continues to impress coaches and teammates.
“All he wants to do is what’s best for the team,” O’Brien said. “All he wants to do is win.”