THE PALLILOG
How the Texans could turn things around sooner than you think
Jan 8, 2021, 11:15 am
This happens every year in the NFL. Composite photo by Jack Brame
The Texans could be a surprisingly good team in 2021. It's unlikely, but that's what would it make a surprise! Feast to famine, famine to feast teams occur every year in the NFL. The league is structured to foster such possibilities. It's not a fluke that since the Texans became the 32nd franchise and the eight four teams per division alignment was established, every season at least four of the 12 (starting this year 14) playoff teams were different from the prior season. This is the 43rd consecutive season in which at least one team went from missing the playoffs the year prior to division champ. The Steelers and Washington Football Team did it this season.
So why not the 2021 Texans? Well, a bunch of reasons, which in part explains why new General Manager Nick Caserio got a six year contract to leave his role as Bill Belichick's right hand man in New England and run his own show for the first time. For several weeks I've been calling 2021 a redshirt year for the Texans' new Head Coach and GM. The thin roster, salary cap mess, and no first or second round draft pick this year make the rags to relative riches story tougher to pull off.
As for the HC gig, the Caserio connection makes many think Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is the connect the dots hire. Meh. McDaniels sure got a lot less smart with Cam Newton as his quarterback rather than Tom Brady. On the subject of connecting dots, meet Bills' offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. He has the same agent as Caserio and Svengali Jack Easterby. Daboll has done a tremendous job developing third year mobile and strong-armed Buffalo QB Josh Allen into a top five MVP candidate. Daboll would seem a strong pairing with Deshaun Watson.
At the Texans' Caserio introduction press conference, he and Cal McNair should be pressed on why the Texans' are the only one of the six teams presently without a head coach to not book an interview with Chiefs' offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy. No way is Bienemy clearly the right choice, but to not even interview him (if that is to remain the case) is conspicuous.
As for Watson's alleged rumination of seeking a trade…if true, whatever. He's under contract for the next five seasons. The only reason for the Texans for even milliseconds to consider trading Watson is if Jacksonville offered Trevor Lawrence and multiple other high picks. I don't know that the Jaguars would trade Lawrence for Watson straight up.
Failure to launch
The Rockets are out of the gate 2-0 vs. Sacramento, 0-4 vs. everybody else. Now they get 6-2 Orlando followed by consecutive games against the Lakers. The Magic isn't really that good and just lost point guard Markelle Fultz to a torn ACL. The Lakers' roster is better than the one that dismantled the Rockets in the playoff bubble as a small stepping stone enroute to winning the NBA title.
The trade market for James Harden remains soft. Barring the smoking of a giant peace pipe the Rockets best hope re: Harden is that an underachieving team or three get panicky over the next month or two. Off early season returns Daryl Morey's Philadelphia 76ers aren't a great candidate. The Sixers are 7-2.
Other than his Westbrook-ian three point shooting John Wall has generally looked pretty good and Christian Wood like a solid investment but the Rockets still don't have the top end talent of the top contenders. That they may be a little deeper than the last couple of seasons is more an indictment of how weak the bench was those seasons. David Nwaba and Jae'Sean Tate would not be getting significant run with many good teams.
Roll Tide
I'll take Alabama over Ohio St. 38-27 in the National Championship game Monday night, after which Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian leaves to start his head coaching job at Texas with an absurd six year 34+ million dollar contract. That's on the UT tab on top of the 15 million Tom Herman gets to not coach the Longhorns going forward. In six full seasons as a head coach (five at Washington and one at USC) Sarkisian lost a minimum of four games per. Without success at a much higher rate, working for overbearing UT boosters (oh yeah, and the University) certainly isn't a low stress task. Hopefully Sarkisian's problems with alcohol are permanently behind him.
Buzzer Beaters:
1. The Mets landing Francisco Lindor from the Indians makes George Springer winding up a Met seem even more likely.
2. The Astros have still done next to nothing to improve their roster. But that's still true for numerous teams this offseason.
3. Most interesting Wild Card weekend games: Bronze-Steelers/Browns Silver-Bills/Colts Gold-Titans/Ravens
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How Houston Rockets hold the cards for a franchise-changing summer
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In Houston, the winning standard has been set so high that anything short of World Series contention now feels like failure. And yet, the 2025 Astros find themselves at an unfamiliar crossroads—caught between the fading brilliance of past stars and the uncertain promise of what comes next.
Jose Altuve is at the center of this issue. His early struggles (-0.5 WAR) may indicate more than just a temporary slump. And when he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had just endured a grueling 33-pitch inning on Sunday, it raised a bigger question: who has the influence to talk to Altuve?
The Astros’ culture has long been praised for its accountability, but who inside the clubhouse has the standing to challenge or counsel Altuve or other vets when needed? With so many veteran voices gone, there’s a growing sense that no one does—and that’s a problem. That’s why the idea of bringing back Michael Brantley—not as a player, but as a respected voice—could make some sense. Brantley was always viewed as a quiet leader, and his presence could restore some of the guidance this roster desperately needs.
Batter up?
While the Astros have built a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, their track record with hitters is far less impressive. There are few, if any, examples of a bat joining Houston and unlocking a new level. That failure in development becomes especially stark when considering how much they’re currently leaning on homegrown youth.
Which brings us to Zach Dezenzo. The 24-year-old rookie is showing he belongs—his .737 OPS makes him one of the more productive bats in a lineup that desperately needs stability while Yordan Alvarez nurses an injury. While Victor Caratini provides the Astros with the ability to switch hit, he's hitting just .217. Dezenzo should be starting every day in left, with Yordan out. Jose Altuve, who has already played too many innings this year, should be shifted to DH duties to ease his physical burden. The Astros should go with Cam Smith in right and keep Jake Meyers in center to round out the outfield.
GM Dana Brown has made clear that he views Dezenzo as a first baseman or left fielder for the future. So why not get him in the lineup while Yordan's out and see what he can do with consistent playing time?
Of course, losing Yordan Alvarez is always going to hurt. But the numbers tell a surprising story. Yordan currently holds a -0.4 WAR, right there alongside Altuve and Christian Walker as the only Astros with negative marks. On paper, the team hasn’t lost much production. But let’s not kid ourselves—Yordan’s mere presence alters how opponents pitch to this team. The lineup without him lacks fear factor, and the margins get razor-thin.
Speaking of margins, one move that may haunt this front office is the decision to sign Christian Walker. The veteran first baseman is hitting just .205 with a .617 OPS—far below the level expected from a player earning $20 million annually through 2027. Compare that to Jon Singleton, who posted better numbers in 2024 and currently boasts an .880 OPS in Triple-A with the Mets organization. Walker's defense is strong, but it's hard to argue that justifies the price tag. Singleton might not be a Gold Glover, or anything close, but he came much cheaper and was quietly more productive with the bat.
No regrets?
There’s also a broader question looming: if fans had known that Altuve’s massive contract extension would potentially cost the team the ability to re-sign current MVP candidates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, would they still have supported the deal? Hindsight is cruel, but with Altuve’s decline and Tucker and Bregman thriving, it’s a fair debate. Houston might have paid for the past instead of securing its future.
Big deals on the horizon?
All eyes now turn to owner Jim Crane. This winter, Houston's payroll will have considerable room to maneuver. But will Crane commit to restocking the lineup with All-Star-caliber bats, or will his reluctance to offer long-term deals keep the Astros stuck in a holding pattern? It’s one thing to let players walk. It’s another to fail to replace them.
The Astros still have the bones of a contender, but the road back to dominance is getting steeper. The team can’t simply rely on what used to work. It’s time for difficult conversations, bold lineup changes, and a rethinking of how this organization develops—and retains—offensive talent.
We have so much more to get to. 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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