HOUSTON TEXANS
2020 Record - 4-12-0
Head Coach - David Culley
Key Additions - Tyrod Taylor (QB), Mark Ingram (RB), Anthony Miller (WR), Vincent Taylor (DL), DeMarcus Walker (DL), Chris Conley (WR), Terrence Brooks (DB), Maliek Collins (DL), Marcus Cannon (OL), Justin McCray (OL), Phillip Lindsay (RB), Andre Roberts (WR), Lane Taylor (OL), Jordan Jenkins (DL), Shaq Lawson (DL), Terrence Mitchell (DB), Kevin Pierre-Lewis (LB), Neville Hewitt (LB), Christian Kirksey (LB)
OFFENSE - Tyrod Taylor appears to be the player who will be the starting quarterback this season because of all the off-season legal problems for Deshaun Watson. Taylor was with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. Others in the mix for QB duties include Jeff Driskel and Davis Mills, a rookie from Stanford.
Running back Mark Ingram (299 rushing yards, 4.2 ypc average and two touchdowns) comes over from Baltimore this season and will share duties with Philip Lindsay (502, 4.3 ypc and one TD with Denver), David Johnson (691, 4.7 ypc and six TD as well as 33 receptions for 314 yards and two TD) and perhaps Rex Burkhead.
The wide receivers include Brandin Cooks (81, 1,150 yards and six TD), Chris Conley (40, 471, two TD with Jacksonville), Anthony Miller (49, 485, two TD with Chicago) and Keke Coutee, who caught 33 passes for 400 yards and three scores. Rookie Nico Collins (Michigan) could be another option. The tight ends are Jordan Akins (37, 403, one TD), Pharaoh Brown and rookie Brevin Jordan (Miami, FL).
DEFENSE - Jordan Jenkins, Ross Blacklock, Charles Omenihu and Whitney Mercilus look to be the starters up front along with linebackers Christian Kirksey, Zach Cunningham and Kevin Pierre-Louis. Shaq Lawson, Maliek Collins, Vincent Taylor and Jacob Martin are others on the defensive line. Rookie Garrett Wallow (TCU), Nate Hall and Neville Hewitt will play linebacker as well.
The secondary include safeties Lonnie Johnson, Jr. and Justin Reid along with corners Terrance Mitchell and Bradley Roby. Others in the fold are Eric Murray, Desmond King, Terrence Brooks, John Reid and Vernon Hargreaves III. The Texans allowed 257 yards per game passing last year along with 160 rushing yards per game, which was the worst in the NFL. The team finished 30th in total defense, giving up 417 yards per game and allowed 29 points per game while intercepting only three passes all season. The Texans had 34 QB sacks.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - Make no mistake, this team looks like a potential mess on paper heading into the 2021 season, but the games are played on the football field and that has to be the positive mindset for the Texans and rookie Head Coach David Culley.
It's highly unlikely the Texans will have Watson on the field this year as he has been in and out of team practices during the training camp. The Texans passing game was respectable last season, finishing fourth in the NFL by averaging 284 yards per game, but that was with Watson as the starting quarterback. The running game averaged 91 YPG and the team finished 13th in total offense, averaging 375 yards per game while scoring 24 points per game.
The offense will likely be a work in progress once the season starts with so many new faces in key positions. Better pass protection is a must as even the fleet footed Watson was sacked 49 times last season. The running game must improve from the 31st rank in the league a year ago and having Ingram and Lindsay along with holdover David Johnson could boost the totals this year.
The biggest name and perhaps the face of the franchise (defensive end J.J. Watt) is no longer around, having been traded to the Arizona Cardinals and now the new collection of talent in the front seven will try to improve from a very poor performance last year. In all likelihood, the Texans win less than the four games of a year ago and perhaps finish 3-14 and in last place in the AFC South.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Jacksonville
Week 2 - at Cleveland
Week 3 - vs. Carolina
Week 4 - at Buffalo
Week 5 - vs. New England
Week 6 - at Indianapolis
Week 7 - at Arizona
Week 8 - vs. L.A. Rams
Week 9 - at Miami
Week 10 - BYE
Week 11 - at Tennessee
Week 12 - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week 13 - vs. Indianapolis
Week 14 - vs. Seattle
Week 15 - at Jacksonville
Week 16 - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week 17 - at San Francisco
Week 18 - vs. Tennessee
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