Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Can Ryan Fitzpatrick keep Houston Texans’ hot streak alive? A weak division, weaker schedule, strong run game, and stronger defense provide hope in Houston. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in part two of this week’s TD Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate the NFL and sports.
TODD:
I’m concerned about Houston’s actual upside this season, outside of its remaining schedule.
We both liked the Texans for a bounce-back season entering the year, but that was obvious because of how bad they were in 2013. An improvement was coming by default. That’s how this league works.
And as things currently stand, the team is looking pretty okay. Arian Foster is healthy and running well; Andre Johnson seems healthy and finally has a relatively talented running mate in DeAndre Hopkins. The offensive line is coming along; rookie guard Xavier Su’a-Filo just got his first career start recently. But the offense will always have a limited ceiling because of its signal caller.
Ryan Fitzpatrick currently has the highest completion percentage and yards per attempt figures of any season of his career. However, he has a 1:1 touchdown to interception ratio, and head coach Bill O’Brien felt the need to come out and reaffirm Fitzpatrick as his starting quarterback. That is never a good sign.
On the defensive side, Jadeveon Clowney is still an unproven rookie who hasn’t played a full NFL game in his career. Brian Cushing is still not back to the level he was at a few years ago for Houston. Johnathan Joseph on the outside also seems to be playing differently than in years past. He has yet to pick off a pass and his passes defensed numbers are really low, but his tackles are way up perhaps because opponents are getting around the edges and into the second level of this defense.
Of course, this helps any defense, so how bad could things really be on this side of the ball?
The special teams have been nothing worth noting. An average return unit, a below-average coverage unit, and a kicker who just missed a really big kick last week, don’t add anything to this team’s overall picture. We don’t have a Philadelphia Eagles situation on our hands.
I don’t see Houston finishing better than .500 under any circumstances. It just isn’t a finished product on the field yet, especially at QB. Unfortunately, Indianapolis seems to be putting things together year after year in this division while Houston can’t get its talent to line up across the roster. Once the quarterback situation is figured out, where will Foster and Johnson be as offensive talents? And if the defense becomes elite but the offense takes steps back, again, that makes this barely a playoff team even in the weak AFC South.
Things look positive early in 2014. The future looks less so because of bad timing.
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DAN:
The Texans have a been a real bright spot on the season so far, despite their average quarterback play. But if any QB can stay out of his team’s way and game manage, Ryan Fitzpatrick is up to the challenge.
Fitzpatrick has proven throughout his career that he is not a bad quarterback. Sure, the interceptions really hurt, but Houston’s 11th ranked rushing attack makes up for a lot of his potential short comings. In any other division this team get’s written off, but in the AFC South Fitzpatrick might just be enough to lead this team.
What’s really grabbed my attention early on is how Houston is beating the teams it should beat, and losing close to the supposed superior opposition. Games versus Washington, Oakland, and Buffalo were all victories. And losses to Dallas and Indianapolis were less than five points. Heck, the Cowboys’ game even went to overtime.
Houston’s defeat at the hands of New York is their lone ‘bad game’ so I’m not ready to write this team off. I’d usually be resistant to get behind a Ryan Fitzpatrick led team, but I’m sorry, he’s sporting an 86 QB rating. And if his career numbers are any indication, the touchdowns will go up and the interceptions will let up.
The Texans haven’t even played Jacksonville or Tennessee yet, so it’s fairly easy to see them winning eight or more games. I’m not ready to put them in the playoffs, but this team is on the up and up. If 2014 isn’t their year, then Houston has a lot to look forward too in 2015.