Texans Cal McNair, Nick Caserio, Deshaun Watson

The Texans have a plan in place. Composite image by Jack Brame.

There are moves a team can make that will galvanize a team and/or a fanbase. Then there are moves a team can make that'll make you wonder. There are also moves a team can make that'll leave a fanbase speechless for one reason or another. When news came down that the Texans signed quarterback Tyrod Taylor to a one-year deal worth up to $12.5 million dollars, it made waves.

The reason it made waves is because the Texans' franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson has been very vague about his desire to no longer play for the team again. He's been posting cryptic tweets filled with various rap lyrics, as well as scrubbing any mention of the team from his social media bios. It has gotten to the point that even the most hardcore Texan fans and supporters are fed up with his antics.

I never thought it would come to this. Watson has been universally beloved by this city. He could do no wrong. His heart-felt reaction to his contract extension this past September sealed his fate seemingly as he made it seem like this was the only place for him to play and be committed to bringing a championship. Fast-forward a few months, and things are drastically different.

Not only does he want out of Houston, but he's gone about doing so in a manner in which he's turned heel by the way he's chosen to do so. Had he done this quietly, respectfully and behind the scenes, the fanbase wouldn't be as upset as they are now. When JJ Watt released his statement saying he spoke with the team and demanded his release, fans weren't upset at all. They saw it as their long-time great seeking to ride out the twilight of his career in a winning organization instead of facing a rebuild here in Houston. Instead, Watson chose to leak info via his agent and make his intentions known via social media games typical of a disgruntled new age star.

When Nick Caserio signed Tyrod Taylor to the type of deal he did, it put the ball squarely back in Watson's court. Now, Watson can sit out if he chooses, and the Texans will have a respectable quarterback under center. The deal contains a $6 million dollar base salary and up to $6.5 million dollars in incentives. This speaks to Taylor's signing as him being a backup with incentives if he's forced into being the starter. He's a trusted guy to have in that position because he's a proven, reliable guy at a position that has become more valuable over the last few years.

I talked about this on ESPN 97.5 Houston and explained that I believe the grouping of quality backup quarterbacks in the league is bigger than the top tier of elite starters. There may be about five or six elite level quarterbacks in the league, but as many as six to ten backups teams would love to have as their backups. A serviceable backup can win a few games for a team, and maybe even lead them to a playoff berth. He won't be the long-term solution, and often has some deficiencies that'll hold him back from being a full time starter. They're good in spots or small stretches. Typically, they've had the chance to start for teams in the past, but have never proven themselves for one reason or another.

Watson now has to open his width of teams he's willing to take a trade to under his no-trade clause in order to hasten his exit, or be willing to sit out the 2021 season and forfeit about $20 million dollars. Caserio is basically staring at him and his agent with a smirk on his face. This move gives them the chance to be respectable at the quarterback position, but not appear as desperate as they could've been. Your move Watson. Choose wisely.

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The Longhorns host Georgia on Saturday night. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

By any measure, from the official statistics to the informal eye test, top-ranked Texas' defense has been dominant.

The Longhorns rank No. 1 in total defense and scoring defense. They are top 10 in first downs allowed, tackles for loss and passing yards. Much of that is built against opponents starting former walk-on quarterbacks ( Michigan ) and freshmen ( Mississippi State and Oklahoma.)

But the level of quarterback play Texas will face, in both talent and experience, is about to get much better over the second half of the season.

Texas hosts No. 5 Georgia on Saturday night in the first matchup of top five teams in Austin since 2006, before playing the next week at Vanderbilt. Bulldogs senior Carson Beck was a preseason first team Associated Press All-America pick, and standout Vanderbilt transfer Diego Pavia has carried the Commodores to a surprising 4-2 start, including a historic win over then-No. 1 Alabama.

Quite simply, Texas hasn't defended this caliber of quarterback all season.

Beck is a player on the doorstep of the NFL, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said.

“There's nothing in the throw game (Beck) can't do,” Sarkisian said. “He's played enough football now, too. It's kind of hard to confuse guys when they've played that much football.”

Texas (6-0, 2-0 SEC) has allowed just one team to pass for more than 200 yards this season. Beck passed for 459 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions last week in a 41-31 win over Mississippi State. His 36 completions set a Georgia record.

Even when Beck struggled early in Georgia's loss to Alabama, he rallied the Bulldogs to a late fourth-quarter lead. He finished with 439 yards in the loss where Georgia's rally ended with an Alabama interception in the end zone in the final minute.

Sarkisian recruited Beck when the Texas coach was an assistant at Alabama. Beck had initially committed to the Crimson Tide before switching to Georgia.

Beck is 18-2 in his career as a starter, and 6-2 against top 20 opponents.

The Bulldogs (5-1, 3-1) will need another exceptional game from him Saturday. A second SEC loss could threaten any chance of playing for the SEC championship, and raise the alarms on the College Football Playoff as well.

Texas has all but overwhelmed opposing quarterbacks so far.

In last week's 34-3 thrashing of rival Oklahoma, the Longhorns sacked Sooners freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. five times, and held him to 27 yards on 20 carries. Texas allowed just 225 total yards.

Hawkins was the first Sooners freshman to start at quarterback against the Longhorns in the 120-year history of the rivalry and was quickly swallowed up by a relentless pass rush.

By the numbers, the Longhorns program is on pace for a historic season. Sarkisian has said his favorite stat is points allowed, which is not many.

Texas has surrendered only three touchdowns all season. Opponents have snatched four turnovers inside Texas territory, but none have produced points.

That ability to snuff momentum can drain an opponent, Sarkisian said.

“We're so composed as a defense,” Texas safety Michael Taaffe said. “We're so confident, that no matter what happens, everything is going to be alright.”

The only time Texas has trailed this season was a 3-0 early deficit against Oklahoma. Several Longhorns starters were still on the field when the Sooners' final drive stalled at the Texas 6-yard-line as the game ended.

The stars emerging for the Longhorns have been second-year linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and freshman edge rusher Colin Simmons.

Hill leads the team in total tackles (42), sacks (4 1/2) and tackles for loss (8 1/2). His sideline-to-sideline speed and move this season from the edge to the middle of the Texas defense has drawn comparisons to former Longhorns All-American Derrick Johnson 20 years ago.

Simmons has four sacks and 7 1/2 tackles for losses, second on the team in both categories.

“Size, speed,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said in summing up the Texas defense.

“They’re the complete package on defense," Smart said. "The consistency you watch them play with, it reminds me of some of our best teams here.”By any measure, from the official statistics to the informal eye test, top-ranked Texas' defense has been dominant.