EVERY-THING SPORTS
An open letter to Nick Caserio from a Houston Texans supporter
Mar 1, 2023, 1:28 pm
The stakes are high for Texans GM Nick Caserio. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
Here's what the Houston Texans must avoid at all costs heading into next season
The Houston Texans are the owners of the number two overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They “earned it” courtesy of winning the last game of the 2022 season. Had they lost, they would've owned the number one overall pick and control of the draft that goes along with it. Instead, the Bears are in the driver's seat with that pick. Unlike the Texans, the Bears have a young quarterback on a rookie deal they believe in (for now). The Texans are known to want to draft a quarterback with one of their top draft picks.
With all of that in mind, here's an open letter from me to Nick Caserio:
Dear Nick,
Given the fact that some will try to get cute and come up with creative ways for you to get a quarterback, this isn't a decision that requires much thought. You're smart and can deduce who are the top two guys available at the quarterback position, it makes the decision even easier. Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are the top two guys, in case you weren't aware. You own the second pick, simple math will tell you one will be available even if the Bears make a trade with one of the QB-hungry teams drafting behind you. Couple things I feel you should know and/or do:
1) DO NOT trade up to number one overall! There's no need to give up the draft capital you have built up in order to get one of the top two QB prospects. I understand Bryce Young may be the number one guy, but C.J. Stroud is a very good number two prospect. Plus he fits the profile mold of QBs you've drafted in the past when it comes to ideal size. This team has lots of holes to fill. Giving up picks to find the guy when the next best option is right there makes no sense.
2) There's no need to draft a defensive stud at number two, then make a move to get a quarterback or draft whoever falls to you at twelve, or even later.
More about police securing arrest warrants for former Georgia star Jalen Carter stemming from the top NFL draft prospect’s alleged involvement in a fatal crash involving a teammate.https://t.co/w5ub9PZsY8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2023
Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter is perhaps the best prospect in the draft, but he was recently charged with some serious crimes related to the crash and deaths of a former teammate and staffer. Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson are two of the top edge prospects, but they both have flaws and aren't worth passing on a potential franchise QB. Julius Peppers was the last time this team should've drafted a DL over a QB prospect. (Save the Mario Williams over VY crap. That's another debate we're not doing here.)
3) Your job is on the line. You're on your third coach in three years. I know the McNair's are on your butt about producing a winner. The best way to do that is to take a QB at number two, then use the rest of those picks to surround him with talent he'll need to succeed. Make good use of the cap space available. Identify the positions you could use on both sides of the ball and sign them to good contracts. DeMeco Ryans was the right choice at head coach. If you keep pushing the right buttons, you'll be hailed as a conquering hero here (despite your terrible takes on BBQ).
Trust me on this Nick, I think you can get the job done. I believe you're fully capable of completing the mission of bringing this team into national prominence and away from the ditch of despair. Making this team a winner and playoff contender (possibly winning a title) should get you a statue or at least something. The only thing stopping you would be you overthinking this. Don't be dumb. Continue being a smart. You'll be fine. If not, you'll be on the first thing smoking out of town and people will dance on your old parking spot. You got this! Call me if you need some help. (Text me first so I know it's you. I don't answer unsaved numbers.)
Signed,
A concerned media member and team supporter.
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If you are a believer in the third time is a charm, go ahead and book the Texans for their first ever appearance in the AFC Championship game! Saturday is the Texans’ third crack at the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. Of course, the Texans had a third time is the charm opportunity at advancing beyond the division round back in 2016 and came nowhere close. Charm will have nothing to do with the outcome at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs have administered the Texans’ two most humiliating postseason defeats in franchise history. They came as the bookend postseason appearances of Bill O’Brien’s tenure as head coach. In 2015, the Texans won the worst division in the AFC (that sounds familiar) but as a division champ got to play host to the Wild Card 11-5 Chiefs. The visitors were three-point favorites. They won by 30. 30-0 to be more precise. Knile Davis returned the opening kickoff 106 yards for a touchdown. It would have been in the Texans’ best interest to have forfeited right then and there. In what was not exactly a shocking development, Texans’ quarterback Brian Hoyer wasn’t up to the task, throwing for just 112 yards and four interceptions. On the Chiefs’ side third-year tight end Travis Kelce had eight receptions for 128 yards. Taylor Swift was not in attendance.
The second Texans-Chiefs playoff get together is the most incredible game in Texans’ history. The Texans showed up in Missouri fresh off the greatest comeback win in their history, having come from down 16-0 in the third quarter to best the Buffalo Bills in overtime. In what could safely be characterized as stunning, the Texans put up three first quarter touchdowns for a 21-0 lead. *Massive bonus points if you can name the three Texans who scored those TDs, answer below. A field goal made it 24-0 Texans with 10:54 left in the second quarter. In a collapse tough to pull off, the Texans would trail before halftime. The Chiefs scored four touchdowns in nine minutes and eleven seconds of game time, with that Kelce fellow scoring the last three of them. Some will recall O’Brien calling a fake punt from his own 31-yard line with the Texans up 24-7. Too soon? Justin Reid (now pursuing his third Super Bowl ring in three seasons as a Chief) was stopped short. An even more damning O’Brien moment came later in that game when he actually had to use a timeout to change his mind and go for it with 11:49 left in the fourth quarter, the Texans down 48-31, and facing fourth and four at the K.C. 42. That was a fire-able on the spot offense! Instead it took an 0-4 start to the 2020 season for O’Brien to be ousted. 51-31 Chiefs was the final score, and they went on to win the first of their three Super Bowl titles in the ongoing Andy Reid/Patrick Mahomes era.
Back to the present
Those routs were then, this is now. For a 15-2 team the Chiefs seem vulnerable. Maximum credit to them for having won an NFL record 16 consecutive games decided by eight or fewer points, 11 of them this season including their 27-19 victory over the Texans December 21. Perhaps the two-time defending champions were often bored with the regular season and often did just enough to win. The Texans would have been tied with them late in the third quarter had Ka’imi Fairbairn not botched an extra point. On the other hand, it was the play that got them within 17-16 which resulted in Tank Dell’s catastrophic season-ending knee injury. Who besides Nico Collins will do something in the passing game Saturday? Last Saturday the Texans’ pass rush harassed and flustered Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert. Mahomes is a different breed. Four weeks ago the Texans sacked Mahomes just once and did not intercept him. That seemingly must change for the Texans to pull off what be a shocker for most people. Saturday’s high temperature forecast for Kansas City is 25 degrees. Not ideal for the Texans but better than if the game had been scheduled for Sunday when the high is supposed to be 16.
Still standing
Four Texans who dressed for the debacle five years ago will suit up against the Chiefs Saturday: Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard who were in their first season with the team, Fairbairn, and long snapper Jon Weeks. Granted he’s just a long snapper (important role but not physically taxing), but Weeks is in his 15th season with the Texans and has yet to miss a game-244 regular season games (with Saturday his 14th playoff game, also without a miss). Presuming he is back next season, Weeks (who turns 39 next month) can crack the top five list of most consecutive games played in NFL history by answering the bell in the first 12 regular season games.
*The Texans’ three early TDS in the 51-31 loss at KC: 1. Kenny Stills a 54-yard reception 2. Lonnie Johnson with a 10-yard return of a blocked punt 3. Darren Fells with a four-yard grab
For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube
The Astros are always in season for discussion. Our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts drop Mondays: Click here to watch!