Deshaun Watson needs to relax. Tim Warner/Getty Images
What happened to that fun brand of football we were treated to last year? Where is that up and down the field, no fear, high flying offense that put up 34 points a game? Where did it go?
I know we’re only two games in but if those two games are any indication it looks like Deshaun has been O’Brienized and that’s not a good thing. Is this the same offense that Brian Hoyer ran? That Brock Osweiler ran? That Tom Savage ran? I certainly hope not.
I know what I say doesn’t matter but I don’t want Deshaun running BOB’s offense. I want BOB to run Deshaun’s offense. He’s different than Hoyer and Brock and Savage. That’s why they drafted him. That’s why we had such high hopes for this season.
Where are the RPO’s they put in last year? Where are the moving pockets? The bootlegs? Every shotgun pass is a five or seven step drop, every time he’s under center it’s play action.
On their second drive of the game against the Titans penalties and a botched snap had them in a third and 27. That’s a next to impossible situation. Deshaun took the snap, had time and had D-Hop wide open about 15 to 18 yards down the field. It looked like he was looking right at him but instead of pulling the trigger he pulled it down and ran. It wasn’t enough as Fairbairn came up short on the field goal.
That wasn’t the only time though. These past two weeks he’s been tentative, like he’s got information overload. I’m not saying he can’t think or read defenses. He certainly can. You don’t win a national championship or throw 19 TD’s with 8 picks your rookie year if you can’t think.
It just doesn’t look like he’s having any fun. It looks like he’s thinking and not playing, like the weight of the world is on his shoulders and his social media posts are confirming it.
Last week he went after Pat D. Stat who was tweeting about his footwork. He told Pat to “keep that same energy.” He’s since deleted it but why is he worried about what a writer thinks about his footwork?
In his postgame press conference he told anyone who’s hitting the panic button to not hop back on the train later in the season. He even brought up his tough homeless childhood. Where the heck did that come from? Why would he be thinking about that terrible time in his life in a postgame press conference?
People are tweeting him bible verses about God’s plan and he’s retweeting with Amens. Deshaun’s faith in God is admirable but it seems a little early to be thinking that this is some test from God. After all it’s just an 0-2 start; nothing to hit the panic button over.
Deshaun, have some fun out there. Take off on a 60 yard run. Bootleg and hit Ryan Griffin on a 30 yard crossing route. Chuck one up for Will Fuller. Give it to D-Hop on a reverse and you go out on a wheel route. That’d be sweet.
Get back to playing the game you love with some joy. Stop worrying about your critics or fans who are mad about a slow start. And for goodness' sake try not to think about the worst time of your life right after a game.
This is the best time of your life. You’re the best quarterback in Houston Texans franchise history.
Act like it.
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Joe Mixon has carried Houston’s offense in the three games since he returned from an injury.
The running back could be even more important this week with the Texans dealing with another injury to a top receiver after Stefon Diggs went down Sunday.
Diggs sustained a non-contact injury to his right knee and coach DeMeco Ryans refused to provide any details on his injury Monday, saying only that he’s still being evaluated.
His injury comes with leading receiver Nico Collins out for at least one more game after being placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Mixon has had at least 100 yards rushing and a TD run in three straight games. He finished with 102 yards rushing and a touchdown in Houston’s 23-20 win over Indianapolis on Sunday.
“Joe showed up big time for us when we needed him most making plays,” Ryans said.
Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, became the first player in NFL history to have at least 100 yards rushing and a TD run in four of his first five games with a team.
The only time he didn’t have 100 yards and a score this season came in Week 2 when he missed almost the entire second half with an ankle injury that kept him out the next three games. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 100.6 yards rushing a game.
If Diggs is out this week, Tank Dell is the most likely candidate to pick up the slack in the passing game.
His production has dropped off this season after a standout rookie year where he had 709 yards receiving with seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. He has 229 yards receiving this season and scored his second touchdown in Sunday’s win which improved the AFC South-leading Texans to 6-2.
But Ryans said it will take a group effort to make sure Stroud and Houston’s passing attack, which rank eighth in the NFL, stay on track.
“What I loved about our game (Sunday) was that you saw was multiple guys stepping up and making plays,” he said. “That is what excites me the most about our team … a lot of different guys stepping up and making plays and that is what we will continue to see.”
What's working
Houston’s defense entered Monday’s game ranked second in the NFL by allowing just 280.3 yards a game. The strength of the unit has been the pass defense, which is giving up just 164.3 yards a game.
Safety Jalen Pitre, who had an interception Sunday, said the secondary has gotten a boost from Houston’s pass rush, which ranks third in the league with 27 sacks.
“We’re doing a pretty good job, but it’s a huge credit to our D-line,” Pitre said. “They’re outstanding. They do their job at a high level and it does nothing but make opposing quarterbacks know that they’ve got to get the ball out earlier and that turns into incompletions and interceptions.”
What needs help
The offensive line continued to struggle in pass protection Sunday. Stroud was sacked just twice but was hit nine other times and was under pressure on 57.5% of his drop-backs according to NextGen stats.
The Texans benched left guard Kenyon Green for Jarrett Patterson in the first quarter Sunday as he struggled against the rush. But Green had to come back soon after that because Patterson got a concussion.
Ryans said they’ll continue to evaluate the line to see how they can improve the protection.
Stock up
Dell, who is in his second season, had four receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown Sunday. The performance came after he was targeted four times against the Packers but finished with zero receptions. He has nine career touchdowns, which ties him with Will Fuller for most in franchise history through a player’s first 18 games.
“I’m just super proud of him, what he’s been able to do and he’s going to have to step up really big for us,” Stroud said.
Stock down
Green for his struggles in pass protection Sunday. The 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft missed all last season with injuries before returning to the starting lineup this season.
“We can definitely be better, especially on my end,” he said after the game.
Injuries
S Calen Bullock was limited in practice Monday after injuring his shoulder Sunday. … LBs Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and Henry To’oTo’o (concussion) both missed the Colts game but could return this week. … S Jimmie Ward is likely to miss a fifth straight game with a groin injury.
Key number
13.3% — Houston’s defense limited Anthony Richardson to a 13.3% completion percentage in the first half Sunday, which was the second-lowest completion percentage by any player in a half since 1991. The second-year quarterback completed just 2 of 15 passes before halftime.
Next steps
The Texans have a quick turnaround before a visit to the New York Jets on Thursday night where they’ll try for their fifth win in six games.