EVERY-THING SPORTS
Caserio on the clock: The Texans have to hit, and hit big
Apr 20, 2022, 11:54 am
Nick Caserio had a front row seat with Bill Belichick. Composite image by Jack Brame.
When Texans general manager Nick Caserio took the job, he knew what he was up against. He knew there was an uphill battle in trying to rebuild this team into a playoff caliber team worthy of fan angst over not advancing to an AFC Championship game. The team was saddled with bad contracts, stars that wanted out, not enough talent, and a reputation for being dysfunctional. Factor all of that along with the fact that Caserio was long the apple of their collective eyes for at least two years or so, and you get why he accepted the job and got a six-year contract. I mean, the ship isn't going to steer itself straight.
Long before J.J. Watt made that video about demanding his release and well before Deshaun Watson's whole mess, there was a video of the pair leaving the field at the end of the 2020 season that foreshadowed how difficult a road Caserio would have.
"I'm sorry, we wasted one of your years."
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) January 5, 2021
Watt to Watson after a tough season. pic.twitter.com/mcTVK3ZeJG
Watt was recorded apologizing to Watson about wasting one of his prime years. The irony was heavy because Watt was just about past his prime while Watson was entering his. Neither would play another down for the team. Enter Caserio on his white horse from the Northeastern team the folks on Kirby worship. He was seen as their savior then. Now, he's on the clock to prove whether the hype is real, or just cap.
The Watson trade provided Caserio with enough ammo this draft and the next two that he can shoot his shot in a myriad of ways. Season that with getting the cap under control, and you have the beginnings of a decent meal. With not having a first-round pick or a winning record since 2019, the fans are starving for some real excitement. While this quarterback class lacks star power, the team is set on giving Davis Mills a shot this season at being the man. That means they'll most likely draft best player available. Next year's quarterback class is expected to be much better. They own two first rounders in that draft as well (theirs and the Browns).
Cheap labor boosts profit margins because it lowers operating costs. In NFL terms: guys producing at a high level on rookie contracts gives you more cap space to fill in the roster with vets that command higher salaries. If Caserio wants to set his legacy more towards the right Bill (Belichick, not O'Brien) in this category, he'll be off to a great start. Belichick found guys that fit his system at almost every level. From first rounders to undrafted free agents to the occasional vet free agent, he found a way to field a team that fit his coaching style. Caserio had a front row seat to it all. O'Brien seemed to tie his decisions to his feelings/emotions. Hence, why guys like DeAndre Hopkins found themselves traded for pennies on the dollar and the cupboard left bare for Caserio.
Armed with this much ammo, Caserio has to hit and hit big. It all starts with numbers three and thirteen overall in this draft. Those two guys, along with this whole rookie class, will go a long way into determining what Caserio's legacy will be. If Mills can defy the odds and become even a low-end franchise quarterback, Caserio will look even better. Nico Collins has shown promise going into his second year as well. But last year's draft class won't be held to the same standard as Caserio's first full draft class. Especially since some of these picks are the result of trading Watson. It's time for Caserio to bleep or get off the pot, as I've been told. No more excuses.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Houston earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year Sunday and will open against first-time qualifier SIU-Edwardsville in Wichita, Kansas, on Thursday.
The Big 12's Cougars (30-4) have advanced to at least the second weekend of five straight NCAAs but were knocked out in the Sweet 16 the last two years.
Assuming they beat the Ohio Valley Conference champion Cougars (22-11), they would face a big challenge in the second round against the winner of an 8-9 Midwest Region matchup between Gonzaga (25-8) and Georgia (20-12).
Thursday games in Providence, Rhode Island, pit No. 5 seed Clemson (27-6) against No. 12 McNeese (27-6) and No. 4 Purdue (22-11) against No. 13 High Point (29-5).
Texas and Xavier will meet in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, with the winner playing No. 6 Illinois (21-12) on Friday in Milwaukee, where No. 3 Kentucky (22-11) meets No. 14 Troy (23-10).
In Thursday games in Lexington, Kentucky, No. 7 UCLA (22-10) meets No. 10 Utah State (26-7) and No. 2 Tennessee (27-7) faces No. 15 Wofford (19-15).
Houston 11th-year coach Kelvin Sampson has built the winningest program in the country the last seven seasons. Their 211 wins since 2018-19 lead the nation; they're a top-three seed for the fifth time in six tournaments; and they're only the third team since 2009 to be a No. 1 three straight years.
For all the success, the program standard remains the Phi Slama Jama era of the early 1980s. Guy Lewis' Cougars appeared in three straight Final Fours with Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Michael Young leading the way.
Sampson's Cougars aren't nearly as flashy, but the wins have come in bunches. They’ve won at least 30 games in four straight seasons. They enter the tournament having won 13 straight games and 26 of 27 and with a sweep of the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships.
The Cougars, who rank first in the nation in defensive efficiency and give up 58.5 points per game, are the only team in the nation to have allowed fewer than 60 per game for five straight seasons. LJ Cryer is among four players averaging in double figures and is shooting a Big 12-best 42.8% on 3s. Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan also shoot better than 40% from distance, and the Cougars lead the Big 12 and are fourth nationally at 39.8%.
Leading rebounder J’Wan Roberts has missed the last two games with a sprained ankle. Sampson has not updated Roberts' status.
Be careful, Purdue
Look for first-time qualifier High Point to be a trendy pick to upset Purdue in the first round.
The 13th-seeded Panthers, who swept the Big South regular-season and tournament titles, will go into Thursday's game in Providence, Rhode Island, on a 14-game win streak.
Purdue has lost six of its last nine games. The Boilermakers dropped four straight in February and lost by 18 points to Michigan in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Another coach, another tournament
Utah State will make its third straight appearance with its third different coach.
The 10th-seeded Aggies are 26-7 under Jerrod Calhoun and will faced UCLA. They got to the second round last year under Danny Sprinkle, who left after a year to take the Washington job. Ryan Odom took Utah State to the tournament in 2023 and then went to VCU.
Zags going for Sweet 16 mark
No. 8 Gonzaga has its lowest seed since it was an 11 in 2016 and faces an uphill battle to make a record 10th-straight appearance in the Sweet 16. The Zags would have to knock off No. 8 Georgia and more than likely No. 1 Houston to get there.
The Zags rank second in scoring at 86.6 points per game and feature Ryan Nembhard, who leads the nation with 9.8 assists per game.