Devonta Freeman, Tyrod Taylor, and Each Team’s Biggest Storylines So Far
Nov 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) leaves the field after beating the Tennessee Titans 20-6 at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Texans: The Defense
I’ve already mentioned that Houston’s J.J. Watt is tied for first with 8.5 sacks, but he’s been one of the few bright spots on a rather terrible Texans squad. After Houston’s defense carried the team to a 9-7 record last year, many thought it would do so again. In 2014 Houston gave up plenty of yards, but allowed the 7th fewest points in the league thanks to leading the league in takeaways with 34.
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Now, the Texans rank in the bottom half of the league in terms of yards and points allowed, and yards allowed per play. They’ve generated only 9 turnovers, 12th worst in the league. Clearly offenses have figured out how to play against this Houston team, and while J.J. Watt has been getting his sack numbers, his impact on the game as a whole has been minimal.
Anyone watching 2014 Houston games back-to-back with 2015 games will notice a huge difference: In 2014 Watt was able to impact almost every down, even when he didn’t actually make the play, but this year it seems as though when he isn’t making a tackle or sack, the offense is able to completely remove him from the play. For the team this has meant that they don’t have a clear defensive advantage every game anymore, and Houston has already relinquished 27+ points four times, including two 44+ point games.
The addition of Vince Wilfork, the return of Jadeveon Clowney, and a few key draft choices such as Kevin Johnson and Bernadrick McKinney were supposed to elevate Houston’s defense to elite status, but clearly that hasn’t happened yet. Hopefully the Houston D can turn it around and create an exciting second half for their 3-5 season.
Next: Indy's Passers