Does Brock Osweiler make Houston Texans best in AFC South?
By Luke Sims
The Houston Texans have made significant strides in free agency to become stronger competitors and the key is at quarterback with the addition of Brock Osweiler.
Relying on the strength of their defense, the Houston Texans managed to sneak into the playoffs in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL. The Indianapolis Colts faded quickly, struggling behind an injured Andrew Luck, the Jacksonville Jaguars briefly became a threat but quickly came back to earth, and the Tennessee Titans barely showed up in most games.
At 9-7, the Texans won the AFC South. It was an unimpressive mark overall, but the Texans managed to do it without strong play from the quarterback position. The defense did the heavy lifting and it paid off.
But 2016’s AFC South likely won’t be the same as 2015’s. The Texans can’t rely on injuries to Luck and an odd regression year. His history suggests he will be much stronger. Similarly, the Jaguars boast one of the most exciting passing attacks behind Blake Bortles and wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. Even the Titans could be a threat with productive young QB Marcus Mariota and running back DeMarco Murray.
It won’t be enough in 2016 to have a stingy defense and eke out games. The Texans will have to keep pace going forward.
The Texans knew this and wisely adjusted accordingly.
Insert quarterback Brock Osweiler and running back Lamar Miller. Both players were big free agent gains for the Houston Texans, who managed to lure them away from comfortable positions with the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins, respectively. They are now on a team set to be a competitor based on the defense alone and will be expected to reach even greater heights with the two young play makers at key positions.
Osweiler is the biggest difference maker of the new additions. While he only has seven starts under his belt (five wins), the former second-round pick is arguably already an upgrade over 2015 starter Brian Hoyer and certainly has a higher window than him. With a weapon like DeAndre Hopkins, Osweiler could prove to be hyper productive in the Texans’ offense.
Per CBS Houston, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien believes that Osweiler can make the dangerous Hopkins even better, which is a frightening proposition for defensive backs. Hopkins is arguably one of the top three or four wide receivers in the NFL and was the lone saving grace of the Texans offense in 2015, making miraculous catch after miraculous catch.
A weapon like Hopkins, balanced by a running game behind miller, and calmly orchestrated by Osweiler, one of the up and coming talents at quarterback, makes the Texans offense more than capable of keeping pace with the Colts and the Jaguars and far outstrip the Titans. Is it enough to call them the best in the AFC South? Probably not. At least right now.
More nfl spin zone: Brock Osweiler helps Texans emerge as a favorite
Right now there is a lot of potential for the Texans on paper. As Joe Soriano wrote, the Texans are becoming a trendy darkhorse pick because of the changes on offense. The team as a whole could even be the favorite in the division, as noted by Dan Salem. But they have to prove it first. It is far too early to anoint the Texans as the best in the division.
For now, everything looks like it is lining up perfectly. The potential is there. The talent is there. Brock Osweiler gives the Houston Texans the best offensive shot they’ve had in years. Now he just needs to prove that they actually are better than the offenses led by wunderkinds Andrew Luck and Blake Bortles.