A LOST SEASON
5 key things the Texans must address after Sunday's season-ending 22-13 loss to the Colts
Dec 31, 2017, 2:50 pm
Brian Cushing likely suited up for the last time as a Texan. Houstontexans.com
The Texans wrapped up their lost season with a 22-13 setback against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. They finished the year with a pathetic 4-12 record, losing six in a row to close out the season. They won’t even benefit from having a high draft pick, since they traded both their No. 1 and 2 to Cleveland.
It would be easy to let the coaching staff hide behind the injuries, but that also masks other key issues. Here are five things the Texans must address in the off-season if they plan to be back in the playoff mix in 2018:
1. What happens with O'Brien and the GM position?
Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports head coach Bill O'Brien will be back as head coach next season, which has been a question for the past few weeks. However, GM Rick Smith is taking a leave of absence to take care of his ailing wife. So figuring out the new structure is priority No. 1. Does O'Brien get an extension? More say over personnel? A GM he can work with? Hopefully, O'Brien's return comes with some caveats: He has to hire a new defensive coordinator, preferably one with head coaching experience. (Chuck Pagano, perhaps, who was fired on Sunday? Marvin Lewis if he gets let go?) He should also be required to bring in an offensive coordinator. O’Brien can still call plays, but he needs another voice in his ear. If he agrees to that, the Texans could look a lot better next season. But all indications are O'Brien will be the coach again in 2018.
2. Fix the offensive line
The Texans basically have one average offensive lineman in center Nick Martin. The rest is pretty much a disaster. They won’t be able to get impact players in the draft, and have little capital to trade. So they will need to hit free agency hard. Last year’s draft pick, Julien Davenport, might be a possible answer at one tackle position if he improves in the offseason. But the Texans need another tackle and two new guards at the very least. That will cost serious dollars, but there is cap room and potential for a lot more, if...
3. Say goodbye to some stars
Some mainstays need to be sent packing. Brian Cushing and his PED history should be the first to go. Cutting him will free up $8.5 million in cap space. He has little impact and that money could be used elsewhere. Jonathan Joseph will be a free agent, and unless he comes back on a significant pay cut, that should be the end of his time in Houston. He would also need a reduced role if he returns; it is clear he is not a top cover corner anymore. On the offensive side, cutting Jeff Allen and Derek Newton saves another $9 million. Newton will have missed two years when next season starts and was not a great player before his crippling injury. Allen has been a free agent bust. A legitimate backup quarterback should be a priority as well.
4. Retool the secondary
Joseph will have to be replaced. Ideally Kevin Johnson -- a.k.a. the human holding penalty -- would be the guy, but he seriously regressed in 2017. It’s too early to give up on him, but he will need to have a big offseason. Even if he does, corner will need to be addressed in free agency. They also need to invest some money in the safety position, which has never been a priority. Perhaps Joseph could be a solution at a significantly reduced salary. Regardless, at least two new players need to be added.
5. Pray to the health gods
The most important thing for the Texans will be a healthy Deshaun Watson. He was well on his way to becoming a superstar when he was injured, and with him they instantly get better. A healthy return for Whitney Mercilus will help the defense. Of course, J.J. Watt would be a boost as well, but it is unlikely he will ever be the player he was after missing essentially two years with different injuries. Still, he is capable of making a big impact on defense. With those guys back, the defense will have a nice core group with Watt, Mercilus, Clowney, Bernardrick McKinney, Zach Cunningham and Kareem Jackson. A few parts here and there could make them an elite defense again.
Regardless, it will be an interesting off-season. Unfortunately, it started long before Sunday’s game.
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It’s May 1, and the Astros are turning heads—but not for the reasons anyone expected. Their resurgence, driven not by stars like Yordan Alvarez or Christian Walker, but by a cast of less-heralded names, is writing a strange and telling early-season story.
Christian Walker, brought in to add middle-of-the-order thump, has yet to resemble the feared hitter he was in Arizona. Forget the narrative of a slow starter—he’s never looked like this in April. Through March and April of 2025, he’s slashing a worrying .196/.277/.355 with a .632 OPS. Compare that to the same stretch in 2024, when he posted a .283 average, .496 slug, and a robust .890 OPS, and it becomes clear: this is something more than rust. Even in 2023, his April numbers (.248/.714 OPS) looked steadier.
What’s more troubling than the overall dip is when it’s happening. Walker is faltering in the biggest moments. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting just .143 over 33 plate appearances, including 15 strikeouts. The struggles get even more glaring with two outs—.125 average, .188 slugging, and a .451 OPS in 19 such plate appearances. In “late and close” situations, when the pressure’s highest, he’s practically disappeared: 1-for-18 with a .056 average and a .167 OPS.
His patience has waned (only 9 walks so far, compared to 20 by this time last year), and for now, his presence in the lineup feels more like a placeholder than a pillar.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer when you look at José Altuve—long the engine of this franchise—who, in 2024, delivered in the moments Walker is now missing. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Altuve hit .275 with an .888 OPS. In late and close situations, he thrived with a .314 average and .854 OPS. That kind of situational excellence is missing from this 2025 squad—but someone else may yet step into that role.
And yet—the Astros are winning. Not because of Walker, but in spite of him.
Houston’s offense, in general, hasn’t lit up the leaderboard. Their team OPS ranks 23rd (.667), their slugging 25th (.357), and they sit just 22nd in runs scored (117). They’re 26th in doubles, a rare place for a team built on gap-to-gap damage.
But where there’s been light, it hasn’t come from the usual spots. Jeremy Peña, often overshadowed in a lineup full of stars, now boasts the team’s highest OPS at .791 (Isaac Paredes is second in OPS) and is flourishing in his new role as the leadoff hitter. Peña’s balance of speed, contact, aggression, and timely power has given Houston a surprising tone-setter at the top.
Even more surprising: four Astros currently have more home runs than Yordan Alvarez.
And then there’s the pitching—Houston’s anchor. The rotation and bullpen have been elite, ranking 5th in ERA (3.23), 1st in WHIP (1.08), and 4th in batting average against (.212). In a season where offense is lagging and clutch hits are rare, the arms have made all the difference.
For now, it’s the unexpected contributors keeping Houston afloat. Peña’s emergence. A rock-solid pitching staff. Role players stepping up in quiet but crucial ways. They’re not dominating, but they’re grinding—and in a sluggish AL West, that may be enough.
Walker still has time to find his swing. He showed some signs of life against Toronto and Detroit. If he does, the Astros could become dangerous. If he doesn’t, the turnaround we’re witnessing will be credited to a new cast of unlikely faces. And maybe, that’s the story that needed to be written.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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