With their first-round pick in the NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select...

Is it already time to look ahead to the NFL Draft? NFL.com

So the Texans are 0-3 on the season and things don’t look too promising. Deshaun Watson looks out of sorts. Jadeveon Clowney, Whitney Mercilus, D.J. Reader, and several other defenders have only been seen on milk cartons as they’ve all been reported missing. The offensive line is simply offensive. To top it all off, head coach Bill O’Brien went Gary Kubiak in his post game presser with the “that’s on me” crap. This team is a dumpster fire with gas constantly being poured on it every week. The only good thing is the fact that owner Bob McNair hasn’t said anything inflammatory in months, although he did re-sign O’Brien to an unnecessary extension.

So what now? 0-3 teams have about a three percent chance at making the playoffs and about a one percent shot at winning their division. This isn’t going to be a tombstone moment like the 2005 Astros. The new reality facing Texans fans is now setting your eyes upon the upcoming draft. I know there are 13 more games left this season, but do any of you really think this team has a shot? Let’s take a look at positions of need for the upcoming draft:

Offensive Line

Same position was a need a year ago. Ever since Duane Brown left, it’s been terrible. Jonah Williams of Alabama, Greg Little of Ole Miss, and Dalton Risner of Kansas State are three of the names in this group I’ve seen consistently listed as first round picks. Do you think Martinas Rankin and Julien Davenport are the answer? Do you want to see Watson in a wheelchair?

Cornerback

Jonathon Joseph is old enough to live in assisted living facilities. Kareem Jackson can’t run with the people Joseph would be living with. Aaron Colvin is like a 40 degree day. Kevin Johnson should get an injury settlement and be sent along his merry way. LSU’s Greedy Williams, Penn State’s Amani Oruwariye, and Georgia’s Deandre Baker are amongst the top corners out there.

Edge Rusher

“Why do we need and edge rusher? We have Watt, Clowney, and Mercilus!” That is exactly why you need an edge rusher. Watt will be 30 next year even though he’s slowly rounding back into form. Clowney is looking more and more like trade bait or a compensatory pick if they don’t resign him. Mercilus will be 29 next season and isn’t looking anything like his former self. Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell and Miami’s Joe Johnson all have the body-type to play outside linebacker in this system. How well they adjust to a two-point stance could determine a lot.

I could also list inside linebacker (Benardrick Mc Kinney and Zach Cunningham have been exposed), wide receiver (Will Fuller is coming along, but can’t be counted on just yet), running back (Lamar Miller doesn’t strike fear in anyone), and quarterback (Watson needs a capable backup). O’Brien isn’t going anywhere any time soon. The roster needs an overhaul. Good thing they have their first and second round picks in the upcoming draft (two second rounders if you count Seahawk’s pick from Brown trade). GM Brian Gaine and O’Brien will have a ton of work to do this offseason. I truly hope they right the ship this season and keep it going for years to come. There’s only so many times I can write about this moribund franchise wallowing in mediocrity.

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.