Signs the line is about to get right and Mercilus will stay hot off the edge

Could the offensive line be settling in for Texans?

Cody Stoots
Oct 4, 2019, 3:42 am

A little Texans six pack for you on this Friday. The Texans play the Falcons on Sunday at NRG stadium.

Do your eyes deceive you?

Lookie there! The Texans are 8th overall in the advanced metric. The stats don't match the eye test right now though.

The Texans are still 31st in QB Sacked Percentage according to TeamRankings.com.

Not every hit or sack is created equal, and it isn't like Watson gets crushed every time someone gets to him. But, they add up. He still takes too many hits. There are positives though and there is a chance this improves.

ESPN's stats have Tytus Howard as the second-best tackle in football in the above metric. They have guard Max Scharping fourth in the same metric. Greg Mancz will not be back at right guard with his concussion. Zach Fulton will be back at right guard.

Laremy Tunsil has been extremely solid at left tackle since the first game as well.

There is hope the Texans figure this offensive line situation out. Atlanta is a full sack worse per game than last year's team and last year's team was putrid in rushing the passer. If the Texans can't keep Watson upright against Atlanta they may never keep him clean.

October encore?

Whitney Mercilus just came off his best four-game stretch of his entire career. The closest thing to what he did in September is the end of 2015 where he had five and a half sacks but certainly not as many forced fumbles and no interception.

This is what people thought Jadeveon Clowney could do on a regular basis. Mercilus is playing the right position and he has worked almost everyone he has come up against. This week Jake Matthews is the opponent for Mercilus. The son of Oilers legend Bruce Matthews has been decent this season checking in about average on the season according to Pro Football Foucs. He's allowed two sacks and 10 total hurries.

Mercilus is fifth in the NFL with five sacks. He has the most pass rushing snaps from the right side of a defense. This could be a solid opportunity to keep his hot start going.

Texans to honor McNair

The man who brought football back to Houston will be honored at halftime of Sunday's game. Robert C. McNair will see his name up in the Ring of Honor next to Andre Johnson. McNair has thankfully been remembered much better than some of the things he made headlines for in his final year or so.

McNair's actions spoke louder than his words and his actions said he loved Houston and his football team. It wasn't always easy for fans to get along with his patience as an owner, but there is no doubt the city of Houston is a much better place thanks to McNair.

Keke Coutee's chance to shine

Just three catches on seven targets for 18 yards. Not ideal for a player who was ready to breakout after a stop and start season last year. Coutee hasn't quite found his groove with Deshaun Watson and the time missed could be factoring into the issues.

With Kenny Stills recovering from some leg injuries Coutee could take over some of the workload at wideout. If he got clicking, and then Stills returned, the offense would be incredible. It will be interesting to see how the Texans account for Stills' absence. He and Coutee are different players so there has to be some small adjustment at least if Stills can't go.

New old guy on the block

He might be 38 but Mike Adams has gotten better with age. In fact, his best seasons came after the age of 33. It is hard to determine exactly what his role will be as the team's top three safeties are all healthy right now. It is never a bad idea to bring in reinforcements when the Falcons, Chiefs, and T.Y. Hilton coming up the next three weeks.

And I was all like Julioooooo haha

The above video was awesome until you realize Malcolm Butler and the Titans defense shutdown Julio Jones and ended his touchdown streak. Alas, he is still a monster scoring 12 touchdowns in his last 13 games and totaling up 1,182 yards.

I have no idea how the Texans plan to slow down Julio Jones. He might be too fast for Johnathan Joseph and he might be too experienced for Lonnie Johnson. Not to mention, Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley are dangerous as well. Oh, and Austin Hooper can crush from the tight end spot.

This will be one of the toughest games all season for the secondary. If Romeo Crennel can't scheme something up the Texans could find themselves needing to win a shootout on Sunday.

Oh and if you don't get the reference in the title click here.

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Peña power: Houston Astros take Game 1 of ALCS over Yankees, 4-2

Jeremy Peña had two doubles and a home run against the Yankees. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

After all the trash talk from both fan bases, media, and onlookers. After the Yankees had a rain delayed game five. After they had the game pushed back. After the Guardians had their hotel rooms taken away and had to split up. After the Yankees pulled out a win or go home victory. After less than 24 hours from them playing a game and having to travel to Houston. The Yankees played the Astros in game one of the ALCS. Game one was a doozy!

The Astros, behind a masterful pitching performance from Justin Verlander, topped the Yankees 4-2. In a game where every run except one was scored off home runs. In a game in which Verlander threw 103 pitches in six innings when his counterpart (Jameson Taillon) threw 67 pitches in four and a third innings. In a game in which Verlander had 11 of the 17 Yankee strikeouts, while the Astros only struck out twice. Pitching was at a premium. Verlander threw 53 pitches in the first couple innings. Once he settled down, the Yankees didn't stand a chance.

The scoring started with Yankees' center fielder Harrison Bader hitting a 411-foot solo home run in the top of the second inning off Verlander. Astros' catcher Martin Maldonado doubled to right to score Chas McCormick in the bottom of the second to answer and tie the game at 1. In the bottom of the sixth, Yuli Gurriel and McCormick both hit solo homers to make it 3-1 Astros. The very next inning, Astros' rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña hit a solo shot to make it 4-1 Astros. In the top of the eighth inning, Anthony Rizzo hit a solo shot to make it 4-2 Astros and that's where the scoring stopped.

Having homefield advantage in the ALCS courtesy of the best record in the AL this year, the Astros made the most of it by winning game one. They were allowed to rest after taking care of business by sweeping the Mariners. This allowed them to set up their pitching staff. The Yankees weren't as fortunate. They couldn't set up their staff because they couldn't beat Cleveland in timely fashion. Couple that with them spending up pitching in a five-game series and choosing to reschedule game five, they're at a disadvantage.

The Astros are in clear control over the Yankees this series. They have the better pitching staff, starters and bullpen. Their lineup is more evenly distributed when it comes to the offenses. If it isn't Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees aren't getting it done. This looks like it'll be a five-game series. Six if the Yankees get lucky. One down, three to go. "Job's not finished."-Kobe Bean Bryant.

Up next: The Astros play Game 2 against the Yankees on Thursday with Framber Valdez on the mound.

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