The Houston Texans enter 2016 with high expectations after making the playoffs as a wild card last season. The additions of quarterback Brock Osweiler and running back Lamar Miller make the Texans a legit contender in the AFC.
The pressure is on the Houston Texans to contend for a Super Bowl after the signings of quarterback Brock Osweiler and running back Lamar Miller. Quarterback was a problem area for the Texans last season. They started three different quarterbacks.
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Despite playing musical chairs at the quarterback position, the Texans won the AFC South and made the playoffs. The expectations for this upcoming season are much higher, however. Bill O’Brien and his staff need to deliver and take the next step as contenders.
The Texans can win the AFC South again, but they must be a better all around team if they want to compete with the conference elites. The offense will be better, but a talented and underachieving defense must rise to the occasion.
Here are five things the Texans must do well schematically in 2016.
1. Make the Game Easy for Osweiler: Bill O’Brien is a quarterbacks coach by trade so he understands the importance of simplifying the game for a quarterback. Osweiler has plus arm strength and he can make every throw in the book, but the Texans offense is complicated. O’Brien needs to ween him into it slowly in camp and play to his strengths. Osweiler has a big arm so it’s easy to get carried away with the play calling. O’Brien needs to be patient early on and let Osweiler figure things out.
2. Get Miller As Many Touches As Possible: Lamar Miller has been one of the most underrated running backs in the league the last three seasons. He was highly productive with the Dolphins, and he parlayed that production into a $26 million dollar contract with the Texans. Now Miller is being paid like a feature back, and he needs to produce like one. O’Brien must take advantage of Miller’s versatility and get him as many touches as possible, both as a runner and receiver.
3. Consistent Edge Pressure: The Texans need a more consistent pass rush off the edge. J.J Watt gives them an interior pass rush presence, but the Texans don’t get enough edge pressure for a 3-4 defense. Whitney Mercillus has emerged as one of the top outside linebackers in the league, but the Texans need Jadeveon Clowney to stay healthy and produce opposite Mercillus. Offenses can slide their pass protection to either Watt’s side or Mercillus’s. If the Texans get a more consistent pass rush from both outside linebackers, offenses won’t be able to do that.
4. Move Watt Around: The Texans are at their best defensively when J.J Watt lines up at defensive end, defensive tackle, nose tackle or even linebacker in some fronts. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel has done a masterful job of using stunts and twists to free up Watt, but changing his alignment based on down and distance will make the league’s best defensive player even more effective. Forcing offensive lineman to identify him and account for him is the name of the game.
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5. Push It Vertically More: Last season whenever the Texans wanted to go deep, it was DeAndre Hopkins that was the primary target. With rookie Will Fuller in the fold now, the Texans have two vertical threats that can stretch the field and create match ups. O’Brien likes to stretch the field vertically so that he can create space for underneath routes. Now that the Texans have a quarterback with a big arm in Osweiler, they’ll challenge defenses down the field more. That will make a diverse passing game even better.