POWER PLAY
It looks like Jack Easterby is up to his old tricks again
Jan 21, 2022, 2:43 pm
This marks the second straight year that former NFL QB Josh McCown has interviewed for the Texans head coaching job without ever coaching in college or the pros. Pretty incredible that someone with absolutely no job experience would get to interview for a head coaching position in the NFL. Many Texans fans had concerns about David Culley being hired last year because he had never been a coordinator in the league. And look how great that worked out, Culley was fired after just one season.
It's interesting that all of this is happening after Nick Caserio spoke openly to the media this week about Jack Easterby's role with the team, and how Easterby has nothing to do with personnel decisions. He didn't say anything about coaching decisions, though.
According to The Houston Chronicle's John McClain, Easterby and McCown are "close friends." Now things are starting to make a lot more sense. Why else would the Texans be considering a coach with no experience after they just fired one who underwhelmed due to inexperience? Easterby, that's why. At least that's what I think is going on. So all this talk that Easterby has nothing to do with football decisions, looks like a bunch of BS.
ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio spoke with Peter King about the Texans' interest in Josh McCown and said he believes the Texans are hoping another team gives McCown an interview so that the Texans would have more justification in hiring McCown. If you're trying to talk Texans CEO Cal McNair into hiring someone who is way underqualified, it sure would make it easier if you could point to another team that's showing interest, right?
Well, it looks like that is actually happening. Aaron Wilson is reporting that McCown had a conversation with the Jaguars this week.
Jacksonville Jaguars have had a conversation this week with retired quarterback Josh McCown this week, according to league sources. McCown, who had a formal interview with the Texans on Thursday, highly regarded for his knowledge of the game, leadership skills and intelligence
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 21, 2022
You just can't make this stuff up when it comes to the Texans. Don't be surprised if McCown ends up being the Texans next head coach. It makes zero sense, considering the Texans have interviewed several qualified coaches. But never underestimate Jack Easterby's ability to get what he wants, and don't buy in to the comments about Jack having nothing to do with Texans personnel. McCown could end up being a great coach, but why not make him prove it as coordinator first?
Be sure to check out the video above for more information about Josh McCown being a serious candidate for the Texans head coach position, and why he wasn't on David Culley's Texans staff last season.
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Expectations
The Texans are favored to win the AFC South for a third straight season with a team led by young stars quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson. Stroud’s strong first two years helped the Texans turn things around and this year they’ll try to reach the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time in franchise history. Stroud will be directing a new offense led by first-time offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who took over after Bobby Slowik was fired this offseason following Houston’s loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round. General manager Nick Caserio also beefed up the team’s receiving corps, led by Nico Collins, by adding veteran Christian Kirk and drafting Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third. Coach DeMeco Ryans has vowed the offensive line will be better this season after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which was second-most in the league. But it’s difficult to see how his protection will be better after they traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil and didn’t make any big moves to replace him. Defensively, Anderson should take another step forward in his second year playing with veteran Danielle Hunter after the third-overall pick in the 2023 draft had 17 sacks combined in his first two seasons. Cornerback Derek Stingley returns to lead a talented young secondary after earning first team AP All-Pro honors last season when he had five interceptions and defended 18 passes.
New faces
OC Nick Caley, WR Jayden Higgins, WR Christian Kirk, WR Jaylin Noel, LT Cam Robinson, RB Nick Chubb, RT Aireontae Ersery, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Jake Andrews.
Key losses
LT Laremy Tunsil, WR John Metchie III, G Kenyon Green, TE Brevin Jordan, CB Eric Murray, WR Robert Woods, CB Kris Boyd.
Strengths
Stroud and Houston’s stacked receiving group should be the stars of the team this season. The 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year has been great in his first two seasons to bring the Texans back into contention after an awful stretch. His interception rate was up last season but he’s looking for improvement this season in Caley’s offense, which he has described as “exciting.” He’ll have plenty of strong targets to throw to, led by Collins, who had a second straight 1,000-yard season last year despite missing five games with injuries. He’ll be joined by Kirk, who should fill in at the slot with Tank Dell likely to miss all season recovering from an injury he suffered in December. Higgins and Noel come to Houston after combining for 2,377 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns last season at Iowa State.
Weaknesses
It’s hard to see how the offensive line will be improved this season with Tunsil gone to Washington. Though he was penalty-prone, he was the team’s most consistent lineman. They completely revamped the line after his trade and return just one starter from last year’s group. They’ll likely rely on rookie Ersery to protect Stroud’s blind side after taking him in the second round of the draft. He started 38 games at left tackle over three seasons at Minnesota. Veteran Tytus Howard returns at right tackle after starting 16 games there last season. The center is Jake Andrews in his first year in Houston and he returns after missing all of last season with an injury before being released by the Patriots. Left guard Laken Tomlinson and right guard Ed Ingram are also new to the team.
Camp development
Houston’s secondary sustained a big blow in camp when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a leg injury. The injury isn’t season-ending but he is likely to miss significant time. Gardner-Johnson is in his first year in Houston after he was acquired from the Eagles in March in exchange for left guard Kenyon Green. He was expected to be the team’s starting free safety after the Texans lost Eric Murray in free agency to the Jaguars. The Texans will also be without backup Jimmie Ward indefinitely after he was placed on the commissioner exempt list Tuesday as he faces a felony domestic violence charge after a June arrest.
Fantasy player to watch
Collins should have another big year after finishing with more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons. He’s had 15 touchdowns combined in the last two seasons despite missing seven games with injuries.
BetMGM Sportsbook
Win Super Bowl: 35-1.