Every-Thing Sports

How signing Earl Thomas could help turn the Texans around

How signing Earl Thomas could help turn the Texans around
The Texans are likely to roll the dice on Earl Thomas. Composite image by Brandon Strange.

With the Texans off to an 0-3 start, people are wondering can they turn it around? Will they be able to turn it around enough to make the playoffs? Or will they continue to falter? Will they fail hard enough to get Bill O'Brien fired? Well, help may be on the way.

Sarah Barshop of ESPN broke news that the Texans are bringing in safety Earl Thomas for a workout and are a likely destination for him to sign. With AJ Moore going on injury reserve with a designation to return in three weeks and free agent signing Eric Murray looking like yet another bad move, Thomas would be a welcomed addition to the defensive backfield. Not only would he provide much needed depth, but he's a grizzled vet who'd help the younger guys learn the game. He may not be the athlete he once was, but he'd be a playmaker for a team who severely lacks one in the defensive backfield.

This team is in a serious hole. At 0-3, they're most likely not going to make the playoffs. If they do make the playoffs, it'll only be because the league added an extra team in each conference. Currently, they're eight places back of the final playoff spot in the AFC. It's early in the season. There are 13 games left and anything can happen. Can it turn around? Could Thomas be the impetus for change?

When you're at the bottom of the barrel, there's no way to look but up. They've gone through the toughest part of their schedule. Their first two games were the toughest to start a season since 1968. This doesn't excuse what O'Brien has done as a general manager. He's been a bad general manager so far and it's painfully obvious.

The Texans have given up almost 600 yards rushing and almost the same amount passing. Adding Thomas would help plug your piss poor defense immediately. Adding someone like Thomas can work wonders for your defense and help fill a void you're sorely lacking. Adding a playmaker to your defense means less time spent on the field, if it works out, which means more time for your offense. This dynamic could help spur on a boost in offensive production. The less time the defense spends on the field and more time the offense spends on it, the better they should be right?

If Thomas has his head on right, this should also help the younger guys. Mentoring younger players, especially guys at your position, is something I believe older vets should do. Having Thomas work with the Texans' younger defensive backs is a plus in this signing. What if he could get the most out of this group? Wouldn't you want to see if he could get them to play up to their capabilities?

The less time the defense spends on the field, the more the offense should spend on it. If Watson had an extra possession a game to work with, maybe the offense would average more than 20 points a game. This offense is set up to make Watson thrive by spreading the ball around. O'Brien and Tim Kelly have to do a better job of coaching Watson out of holding onto the ball so long by making quicker reads. Making quicker reads means getting rid of it quicker and not taking unnecessary risks. This is something Watson needs to limit that'll help this team on both sides of the ball.

Would Thomas help? Of course he would. Will he fit under the cap? There's plenty of cap space this season. Would he be a model citizen given his offseason? I believe so since this could be his last stop. Besides, where is this team really going? They aren't a threat to make the playoffs right now and don't own their high draft picks to help build this team's future. Swing for the fences O'Brien. You never know when you'll hit a homerun.

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The Texans will look to get back on track this Sunday against the Colts. Composite Getty Image.

C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.

Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”

The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.

They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.

Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.

Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.

“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”

Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.

What's working

The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.

Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.

What needs help

The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.

Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.

Stock up

RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.

Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.

“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”

Stock down

Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.

Injuries

LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.

Key number

3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.

Next steps

The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.

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