Houston Texans: A Struggle Between Defense and Offense

There is no doubt that Houston boasts the best defense in the League, but their offense, especially in the air, is one of the worst in the circuit.

We cannot say that the Texans have not been consistent, as under the tutelage of coach Bill O'Brien, they have had three consecutive 9-7 seasons, with a couple of division titles in a row and a playoff win. The good news for the Texans is that O'Brien himself will be calling the plays this year.

What is inconceivable is that they have not found a starting quarterback, as Tom Savage will become the fifth different passer to start in the last five seasons. And it is such a disappointment that Brock Osweiler was in 2016 that the management had no choice but to rely on Savage, a young man with a good arm, who knows O'Brien's system, who has started a couple of games, has not thrown a touchdown pass, and has been injured in the three seasons he has been with the team.

If Savage cannot handle the job, rookie Deshaun Watson, their first-round pick this year, could step in, as well as veteran Brandon Weeden.

One of the positives on offense is wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who despite regressing in his numbers last year, remains an explosive player. He will pair up with sprinter Will Fuller, who needs to reduce the number of dropped balls. C.J. Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin, the tight ends who combined for 104 receptions in 2016, also remain on the team.

Another good news for Savage is that he will have the talent of Lamar Miller, who surpassed one thousand yards in his first year with the team. However, rookie D'Onta Foreman, taken in the third round, will put pressure on him.

The offensive line struggled to open holes and protect their passer, so improvement is needed. Their best man here is left tackle Duane Brown.

The key question is in what condition J.J. Watt will return, as he only played 3 games in 2016 due to his back injury.

Houston's strength lies in its linebackers. Here, Whitney Mercilus stands out, leading the team with 7.5 sacks. He not only pressures the passer but is also good against the run and in pass coverage. Truly versatile. Benardrick McKinney also appears, being the only player in the League to register at least 100 tackles and five sacks. Brian Cushing is a reliable veteran but is plagued by injuries, which is why rookie Zach Cunningham could be his replacement. The quartet is completed by Jadeveon Clowney, who had his career-high numbers in tackles (52) and sacks (6) last season.

In the secondary, the Texans suffered the losses of cornerback A.J. Bouye and safety Quintin Demps. Their positions will be filled by Kevin Johnson, who has recovered from his foot injury, and Corey Moore. This unit ranked second in the League in 2016.

Houston boasts a Super Bowl-caliber defense, but until they have a good quarterback, their aspirations will be considerably reduced.

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