Opponent Scouting Report: Houston Texans
By Andrew Ites
The Texans’ defense will be incredible again in 2017, but will a change at quarterback fix their ailing offense?
Houston has won the division in each of the past two seasons, but it feels like Bill O’Brien is perpetually on the hot seat.
O’Brien has been able to coach quarterback-deficient teams to playoff appearances, but they’ll never reach another level of success if they don’t solve their problem at the position. They hope to have found their future franchise QB in Deshaun Watson, but it remains to be seen whether he’s ready to lead an NFL offense right away.
Strengths
The Texans lost a couple of key contributors in the secondary this offseason, but their defensive front will remain one of the league’s nastiest units.
In J.J. Watt‘s absence, Jadeveon Clowney became a Pro Bowler and Whitney Mercilus continued to prove that he’s an elite pass rusher.
With Watt back in the lineup after missing 13 games with a back injury last season, the Texans’ defensive line may be unblockable in 2017.
Weaknesses
Like their fellow division rival Jacksonville Jaguars, the Houston Texans have a quarterback problem.
They traded away Brock Osweiler just one year into his four-year $72 million contract, and are looking to start over at QB.
Reading the tea leaves coming out of Houston, it looks like Tom Savage has an inside track on the starting job to begin the year. However, Deshaun Watson’s time will likely come this season, and it may be sooner rather than later.
The Texans may have a Super Bowl contending roster outside of the quarterback position, but that is a rather significant issue.
After years of AFC South dominance, the Colts have ceded control of the division to the Texans over the past two years. Andrew Luck is a clear upgrade over what Houston has under center, but that Texans D-Line could give him some major issues if the Colts’ offensive line isn’t up to snuff this season.