What the Texans got right in 2014
Dec 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) waves to the crowd after the Texans defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17 at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Continuing our look at the Texans 2014 campaign now that it has unfortunately ended at the end of the regular season we’ll look at the good this year. Despite missing the playoffs, despite a misfiring offense and 4 starting quarterbacks there was indeed good for this year and hope for next. We’ll look at what the Texans got right in 2014.
1. J.J Watt’s a Texan for 6 more years.
Prior to the start of the season, in the midst of the swirling drama that was unfolding around Andre Johnson’s reluctance to return people wondered if the Texans would be able to hold on to J.J. Watt. Drafted in 2011 with the 11th pick, the Texans were facing the last season of Watt under contract. As the season fast approached, word came down, the Texans offered Watt a $100 million dollar, 6 year contract. Fans were quite happy, and Watt who is often quoted as saying he likes play “as if I’m underpaid” did so in spades this season. 20.5 sacks, 5 touch downs in total with three on offense and two on defense, a safety Watt has been the Texans most dominate player and their opponents worst nightmare.
With Watt wrapped up through 2019 Fans can relax, the best Texan player since Andre Johnson and the most recognizable is here for the long haul and we couldn’t be happier.
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2. Hiring Bill O’Brien
Yes, he did make the what went wrong list. Those reason still stand. That’s the price you pay when you are the man in charge. Like the captain of the ship, you get all the glory both good and bad. O’Brien, hired after the fall of 8 year head coach Gary Kubiak came in and replaced pretty much the entire coaching staff. His best two choices were Romeo Crennel and Mike Vrabel on defense, the defense really came together in December showing what is to come next season.
While the Texans offense did not rise as the defense, it was good enough to win 9 games, which is a huge turn around for a team that had reached near epic levels of fail the prior season. With critical decisions at quarterback and the draft to look forward to the Texans coaching staff has it’s plate full even as the players take a vacation. O’Brien turned a once “soft” team into a right nasty, hard nosed bunch of footballers and it’s been a sometimes frustrating joy to behold.