Texans embarassed and eliminated at home by division rival

The good, bad and ugly of the Texans playoff loss to the Colts

Jermaine Every
Jan 5, 2019, 6:54 pm
Keke Coutee had the Texans only score. Bob Levey/Getty Images

The Colts dismantled the Texans 21-7 in one of the AFC Wildcard games. The score wasn't indicative of how bad it really was. Here's how I saw it:

The Good

-Keke Coutee was back playing and looked healthy as he was Deshaun Watson's favorite target. Coutee finished with 11 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.

-J.J. Watt swatted a pass at the line of scrimmage when the Colts were in the red zone. However, Brandon Dunn made a pretty athletic interception for a man north of 300 pounds.

-They went 11-5 and won the AFC South (Bill O'Brien voice).

The Bad

-Vyncint Smith lost track of a deep ball in the first quarter. It would've been about a 40-50 plus yard completion. He couldn't track the ball, turned his body a couple times, ultimately dropping the ball. It was the second shot play Watson couldn't connect with a receiver as he also underthrew DeAndre Hopkins on another.

-Watson led the team in rushing for the fifth game in a row. His 76 yards rushing accounted for 72.3 percent of the team's rushing total. If this doesn't spell the need for new life on the offensive line and running back, I don't know what else will.

-Texans defense allowed a 100 yard rusher for the first time all season. Marlon Mack ended the game with 148 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown. They gave up a total of 200 yards rushing to the Colts.

The Ugly

-The pace at which this team plays, especially when behind, PISSES ME OFF! The play clock allows for 40 seconds to get a play called and the ball snapped. Too often it takes the Texans 25-30 seconds, or more, to get that done. It took six minutes and 13 seconds while down 21 to get their first touchdown!

-Jadeveon Clowney left the game with a concussion in the second quarter, but was able to come back in the game. However, rookie safety Justin Reid left the game with a rib injury and didn't return. He lowered the shoulder to separate Eric Ebron from a touchdown catch and wound up hurt.

-This team looked ill-equipped to handle what the Colts were throwing at them. The offense couldn't get into a rhythm, and the defense was taken apart way too easily. Deer staring in headlights are able to make better adjustments than the Texans did against the Colts.

I put this loss squarely on the shoulders of the coaching staff. Neither side of the ball looked ready, nor did they make any necessary adjustments. They were thoroughly out-coached. This loss is a sign that better coaching is needed, on both sides of the ball. I recommended Adam Gase as a potential offensive coordinator, but he may be up for a head coaching gig. Romeo Crennell needs some youthful infusion into his play calling as well. This team needs more talent, as well as better depth. The offseason is now here. Time to look at potential free agents and draftees that can help this team. While this loss hurts, I pray it serves as a wake-up call for the organization and moving forward they can put together a better staff, along with a better team.

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Lonnie Johnson and Max Scharping are the newest Texans

Needs addressed with corner and tackle for Texans in second round

University of Kentucky Athletics

The Texans had needs and they continue to fill those needs with the 2019 NFL draft. Thursday it was offensive lineman Tytus Howard and he is now joined by a pair of need-based selections in Lonnie Johnson a cornerback from Kentucky and Max Scharping.

Johnson ended up at Kentucky after being recruited by Ohio State and failing to qualify academically. He ended up at Garden City Community College before being recruited by Georgia and Kentucky. He ended up at the Wildcats and now he is in the NFL.

"It basically shows that I work hard," Johnson said about his issues in the classroom. "Everything that it took to get here, just everything that I've been through I'm lost for words right now.

Johnson said he almost quit football in junior college due to his hard time off the field.

The big challenges he overcame has the big corner ready to attack the NFL. Johnson is almost 6 feet 2 inches with long arms. He said he prefers to play press man coverage because he likes to "get down there and get gritty" with wideouts.

"He can play perimeter press coverage, can play man coverage. We're excited to have him," said Texans general manager Brian Gaine.

He also joked since he formerly played wideout he just does his job backwards.

Johnson joins a rebuilt cornerback room that has new faces Bradley Roby and Briean Boddy-Calhoun along with holdovers Johnathan Joseph, Aaron Colvin, and Johnson Bademosi. Last year's seventh round selection Jermaine Kelly is still on the team after missing last year's team.

He also joins a team with J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney up front. Johnson expects to buddy up with the fearsome pass rushers.

"They're gonna be my best friends," Johnson said with a laugh. "They help me make plays and I'm going to help them."

Nothern Illinois University Athletics

It was a private workout with Texans offensive line coach Mike Devlin that tipped off Max Scharping he might be a member of the Houston Texans. Weeks later Houston turned his name in as they continue their quest to remake the offensive line and protect Deshaun Watson.

"Max Scharping, very versatile offensive lineman," said Gain. "Starting left tackle, team captain material, outstanding football character, big man, fits our parameters – the height, weight, speed."

Scharping played mostly tackle but said he worked at guard early in his college career and has been working with a coach preparing to play guard saying he is "comfortable with both." He played mostly tackle, but he played every game of his career. 53 straight.

"I feel like durability is one of the best aspects of my game," he said.

Scharping didn't miss a game and didn't miss many answers on his tests in the classroom either. He boasts a 3.99 GPA with only a slip in a freshman year English class he joked. He has a Masters in Exercise Physiology.

The Texans will hope he earns a degree in keeping Watson, a quarterback he calls one of the best in football, upright.

Hailing from Green Bay, Wisconsin he gets an early treat as the Texans will practice with the Packers up North early in the preseason. He also gets to play with fellow Badger State fan.

"I grew up watching [J.J. Watt] at Wisconsin," he said. "It's going to be amazing to be on the same team. You're going against the best defensive line in the country. You got him. You got Clowney. Blocking those guys in practice every day you're going to be going up against the best so games should be a lot easier."

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