Houston Texans Weekly Roundup: Improving during OTAs
The Houston Texans have been preparing their rookies and veterans for the 2019 season with recent OTAs.
The best part about May is the Houston Texans were on the field with OTA practices, as optimism is high, players are healthy and there is a clean slate which is great for all involved, especially after how last season ended for the AFC South champions.
One of the players spotlighted by ESPN.com was second-year wide receiver Keke Coutee as Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com quoted Coutee about his rookie season:
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"“But every time I got to play, those six games, I gave everything I had. That was my rookie year. This year is a different year. I’m looking to be out there all 16 games this season.”"
Think about this for a second, if Coutee was able to play in all of the games last season as the slot receiver how dangerous would have the offense been? Would have the sack number of quarterback Deshaun Watson been lower as well, with Coutee making plays from the slot?
Coutee finished last season with 28 receptions in his six regular season games for 287 yards and one touchdown. He also had 11 receptions in the playoff game with 110 yards and one touchdown.
It is very simple with Coutee, if he’s on the field the Texans’ offense is a whole new team, a better team and a team that can have success. If Coutee is not on the field, the Texans will suffer. If all goes well like it has so far this offseason, Coutee should be a big part of the Houston offense in 2019 as long as he’s healthy.
• Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle recently wrote an article on Texans Chairman and CEO Cal McNair about QTAs, quoting the CEO:
"“Now is the time to kind of get the team together and form the team,” McNair said. “We see a lot of good ability out there. Of course, they’re in shorts.”"
McNair is correct in saying this is the time of year to basically see what the Texans are as a team, and it seems to be that he knows there is work to do for the franchise. The article also goes on to have him speak on Watson and how the quarterback has looked “tremendous” in OTAs.
As for Watson this could be a huge year for the third-year quarterback and if there is one player to be excited for this upcoming season it is him. If Watson can survive 62 sacks in the regular season in 2018 and still be productive, imagine how good he can be if that number is cut down in 2019.
• Mateo Caliz of Stampede Blue of SB Nation profiled the Texans as they said the Texans are one of the biggest threats of the Colts in the AFC. The article said one of the biggest strengths for the Texans is the front 7 of the defense, with the article also talking about defensive end J.J. Watt:
"“The Texans had a top-3 run defense and ranked 4th in takeaways … He makes the Texans defense exponentially better all by himself, and is always a force to be reckoned with.”"
That is true on all fronts because the Texans really do need to have a healthy Watt for the defense to run as it needs to. Watt is the leader of the unit and makes all of those around him even better for the focus he takes from the opposing offense.
The Texans and Colts matchups may have went more in favor of the Colts last season with Indianapolis winning two of the three meetings, it makes for even more intrigue for the upcoming 2019 season, and Watt will be a big part of that story.
• Sean Pendergasrt of the Houston Press had four observations from the Texans’ OTAs, with one of those being about Johnathan Joseph “embracing the leadership role,” by writing the following:
"“Joseph’s embracing of this role was quite evident, with lots of quasi-coaching of younger players, plenty of trash talk, and even a couple plays made during 11-on-11.”"
This is exciting to see the veteran Joseph working with the younger players and future of the Texans. If the Texans are going to have long-term success they need the current veterans on this team to do their part and show the young guys the ropes of the league.
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Joseph has done a lot of great things in the league and with the Texans, but being one of the leaders could be at the top of the list if he helps propel them to a higher level of play, and the Texans become a team to have playoff success.