Houston Texans: Three highly paid defenders that need to step up
By Randy Gurzi
Aug 22, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel on the sideline during the game against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Texans offense has been a mess, plain and simple. The offensive line is made up of players who are playing out of position coupled with guys who were on a different roster for most of the preseason.
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The offensive line injuries have caused a lack of continuity which has clearly hurt the running game. Then of course, there is the quarterback flip-flopping that seems to be never ending as head coach Bill O’Brien can’t decide between the mediocre Brian Hoyer and the fastball-only throwing Ryan Mallett.
However, this team is worse than expected still. Last season they saw four quarterbacks take the field and they never looked as mismatched as they have in every contest this season.
Even when they play the Indianapolis Colts at home, on a short week with a 40-year old quarterback that was just released from the hospital they look bad. The Texans even needed a hail-Mary catch by Jaelen Strong and a second half resurgence to make a game out of it against the Matt Hasselbeck led Colts.
Therein lies the problem. The Texans should have never trailed with an aged quarterback throwing to an aged receiver in Andre Johnson. Not to mention they also ran the ball with an aged running back Frank Gore.
The oldest team in the league looked ten years younger against this defense. The same team which still looks pathetic to me outside of their narrow wins against their AFC South opponents, (three teams with one win apiece in Jacksonville, Tennessee and Houston) had their way all-night against Houston.
What is so frustrating about the lack of defensive firepower is that this was supposed to be the strength of the team. Yet watching them on Thursday night you realized if defensive end J.J. Watt is neutralized, no one else can be relied upon for anything whatsoever.
While each and every member of this defense needs to look themselves in the mirror and ask how they can improve, I have singled out three guys (two of which I highly objected to) who were handsomely paid this offseason and have done nothing to justify their contracts.
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