{"id":24066,"date":"2023-07-17T16:01:16","date_gmt":"2023-07-17T20:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=24066"},"modified":"2023-07-17T16:01:18","modified_gmt":"2023-07-17T20:01:18","slug":"taking-stock-houston-texans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/nfl\/taking-stock-houston-texans\/","title":{"rendered":"TAKING STOCK: HOUSTON TEXANS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the second season in a row the Houston Texans actively tried to tank for the top pick in the NFL Draft and, for the second consecutive season, they failed by a single game. Yes, the Texans came into Week 18 in firm possession of the No. 1 selection in April\u2019s draft, one where they would have their pick of every potential franchise quarterback available, and blew it with a 32-31 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Such was the end of Lovie Smith\u2019s second tenure as a head coach in the NFL, and probably his last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The year before David Culley, also a one-and-done head coach, finished with virtually the same record, minus the tie, sweeping the Jacksonville Jaguars in the regular season and beating the hell out of the Los Angeles Chargers the day after Christmas to keep themselves from that top pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all worked out for Houston, and we\u2019ll get to that, but there was still a whole season to waste for a team that, somehow, avoided going 0-17 as their roster and coaching staff seemed to all but ensure it. Instead, they ruined that in Week 1 with a 20-20 tie with the Indianapolis Colts. I\u2019m not calling that a bright spot, as I desperately wanted the Texans to be the NFL\u2019s first 0-17 franchise. Now, after the moves they\u2019ve made recently, it\u2019ll probably never happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of their wins was over a playoff team too, the aforementioned Jaguars, who they knocked off 13-6 back on Oct. 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Davis Mills started 15 games and was responsible for all three \u201cvictories,\u201d completing 61.0 percent of his passes for 3,118 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Dameon Pierce led the team in rushing with 939 yards and four touchdowns to go with 30 receptions for 165 yards and a score. Brandin Cooks, now with the Dallas Cowboys, caught 57 passes for 699 yards and three TDs. Jerry Hughes led the team with nine sacks on defense to go with 35 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, a pass defense and two forced fumbles. Jalen Pitre led the team with 147 tackles with five for a loss, eight passes defended, one fumble recovery and a team leading five interceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOUSTON TEXANS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022-23 Record:<\/strong> 3-13-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playoffs:<\/strong> N\/A<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 Super Bowl Odds:<\/strong> +10000<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 AFC Championship Odds:<\/strong> +5500<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 AFC South Odds:<\/strong> +750<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOW WHAT?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing the Texans had to do is find a forever coach. After two years of shoulder shrug hires angling for draft picks, Houston actually made the right call, bringing in former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, one of the best Houston Texans players in its history, to run the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryans, along with general manager Nick Caserio, has already ensured this will be a much better and more competitive team with their player acquisitions, and we\u2019ll get into that as we roll through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, this is not a good team and, while they might shock with a win here or there they shouldn\u2019t get (and, really, every win over the last two seasons for the Texans would qualify for that), they could actually be favored in some of their games this year. Yes. You read that right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at their schedule<\/a>, it\u2019s not completely inhospitable. They do open at the Baltimore Ravens and that\u2019s a loss you could see from the moon. But hosting the Colts in Week 2 could very well be a win. This is a team that could realistically be 2-4 heading into their bye in Week 7. After the bye? There are some games that will be highly competitive there. They play at the Carolina Panthers, host the Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask led Tampa Bay Buccaneers, host the Arizona Cardinals and whatever quarterback they can shove out there and then play two against the Tennessee Titans late before wrapping the season at the Colts. That could equal an 8-9 finish. Will they do it? Of course not, but it\u2019s possible on paper. As it is, I\u2019m expecting them to top out at 5-6 victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE DRAFT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there was some debate between CJ Stroud and Bryce Young over who might be the better pro prospect, there was no debate for me. Stroud was my pick from the start of the draft process and he fell right to Houston with the second pick. To make sure they couldn\u2019t screw up their draft next year with too many options, they traded back into the Top Five to take Will Anderson out of Alabama, the best edge rusher in this draft at No. 3. That alone would probably be worth an A+ draft grade<\/a>, but they added a starting center in Juice Scruggs from Penn State in the second and got a super productive slot receiver and possible kick\/punt returner in Tank Dell out of Houston in the third. Taking Anderson\u2019s Crimson Tide teammate Henry To\u2019oTo\u2019o wasn\u2019t too bad either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FREE AGENCY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With money to burn and plenty of holes, the Texans didn\u2019t wait until the draft to start filling them. On offense, they brought in Robert Woods from the Tennessee Titans at wide receiver, Dalton Schultz at tight end from the Dallas Cowboys, Case Keenum at backup quarterback (and a homecoming for him, no less) from the Buffalo Bills, fullback Andrew Beck from the Denver Broncos, running backs Mike Boone from the Broncos and Devin Singletary from the Bills, wideouts Noah Brown from the Dallas Cowboys and Steven Sims, Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers and guard Michael Deiter and tackle Greg Little from the Miami Dolphins. On defense, they added cornerbacks Darius Phillips from the Broncos and Shaquill Griffin from the Jaguars. Ryans raided his old San Fran defense for safety Jimmie Ward and defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway. They also signed Byron Cowart, defensive tackle from the Kansas City Chiefs, defensive end Chase Winovich from the Cleveland Browns, linebacker Cory Littleton from the Carolina Panthers, linebacker Denzel Perryman from the Las Vegas Raiders and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins from the New York Jets.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFC SOUTH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AFC South isn\u2019t the weakest division in the NFL, but it\u2019s right on the heels of the NFC South and there\u2019s only one team coming out of this scrum with a winning record and playoff spot. That\u2019ll be the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Houston could fall anywhere from second to fourth and I wouldn\u2019t be shocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter <\/em>@TheFirstMan<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with us our socials on <\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a> for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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