Houston Texans: Fixing the offense key to 2019 season
Bill O’Brien’s team won the AFC South in 2018. But the Houston Texans must address some key issues if they are to cure what ailed the team a season ago.
The Houston Texans a club that lost its first three games and dropped three of its final five outings, including a home playoff loss to the divisional rival Indianapolis Colts. In between, the Texans showed a lot of promise and rebounded smartly after a disastrous 4-12 campaign. But Bill O’Brien’s team needs to sort a few things out if the team is to progress and finally advance to a conference championship game.
First, there’s the matter of new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly. The Texans’ tight ends coach the previous two seasons, he and O’Brien go back to the duo’s days at Penn State. Kelly joined the Texans in 2014 when O’Brien was named head coach.
He’s the first coach to hold the title as offensive coordinator for this franchise since George Godsey in 2016. But will he be in charge of the play-calling, a subject of much criticism when it comes to Houston’s sideline leader in recent years?
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
“I think it’s so early right now to really talk about any of that,” said O’Brien recently at the NFL Scouting Combine (via Mark Lane of TexansWire.com). “We’re really concentrated on the draft. We’re concentrated on what we want to do. We have a nine-week offseason program that starts April 15.”
And the Texans’ five-year head coach explained that OTAs in May could have a bearing on Kelly earning those responsibilities.
"“Where does the process start as a play-caller?” added O’Brien. “It starts with obviously having a great understanding of your system, having a great understanding of defense, which Timmy does. And then it starts with how much scripting do you want to give them? Will he call the plays in practice? Who will translate the play from the script, or even off the script, to the quarterback in practice? There’s a lot of ways you can train a play-caller.”"
Of course, if the Houston offense is improve from a year ago, the play up front has to be considerably better. And that starts with an upgrade of talent via the NFL draft in April. Last offseason, the Texans looked to bolster their offensive line via free agency with the additions of tackle Seantrel Henderson and guards Zach Fulton and Senio Kelemete. The former was lost for the season in Week 1.
Injuries and inconsistency plagued this unit all season and the team allowed a league-high 62 sacks. This was one season after the Texans surrendered 54 QB traps. All told, the club’s offensive line was ranked 23rd by Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner in 2018.
A year ago, the Texans didn’t have a first- or second-round draft choice due to trades that enabled the team to draft quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2017. This April, the club has the 23rd overall pick, as well as back-to-back selections in the second round (Nos. 54 and 55).
Could the team take a page from the Colts and use a first- and second-round pick on offensive line help, as was the case in 2018 when Indianapolis added Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith? Houston may be better off fixing its offensive line in the draft rather than spending money in free agency.
NFL Draft Big Board: Top 50 prospects for 2019. dark. Next
Yes, the Houston Texans finished eighth in the league this past season in rushing offens,e but that was with Watson gaining 551 yards (five touchdowns). Some young talent up front and perhaps a new voice calling the offensive plays for the team and the defending AFC South champions could be a better overall football team sooner than later.