Houston Texans: 5 Takeaways from loss vs. New Orleans Saints

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 09: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans gives the team a pep talk before a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 09, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

5. Defensive front needs some work

The defensive line of the Houston Texans didn’t impress much in the season opener, and even defensive end J.J. Watt was zoned in on by the New Orleans Saints, resulting in a very unusual quiet game from the past Defensive Player of the Year.

Watt didn’t record a tackle in the loss to New Orleans, and that was the first occurrence of that happening since Week 4 of the 2017 season against the Tennessee Titans, but at least in that game he had a pass defensed.

Games like that happen from time to time to players, and even for players with the résumé of Watt, games where he doesn’t stand out will occur.

Herbie Teope of Nola.com wrote the following in a Monday night article about Watt and his Week 1 performance:

"“Part of the plan was double-team blocks or having tight ends Jared Cook and Josh Hill chip Watt before going out on routes. The large part of the plan, however, was faith in right tackle Ryan Ramczyk to handle Watt in a lot of one-on-one situations.”"

Well, that plan worked for the Saints and made Watt a non-factor in Week 1, which was also the first game Watt and the Texans played since trading fellow pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, meaning more focus will be put on Watt this season.

Don’t be surprised to see that same game plan be used by every team the Texans play this season against Watt until others on the defensive line and the defense prove they have to be accounted for to take away the double-teams of Watt.

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