NFL
By: Bill Carroll
If the question is, could The 2022 Houston Texans be surprise contenders? I truly think that the answer could be yes. They ended the 2021 season with a record of 4 wins and 13 losses, Houston finished third in the NFL’s South Division of the American Football Conference. The Texans were ineffective on both sides of the ball, posting only 255 points, and on defense, they surrendered 424. As a team, they scored 16.5 points per game while allowing 26.6 points per game. The team’s hopes largely ride on the continued growth of their talented young signal-caller.
Houston Texans On Offense
Davis Mills, as a rookie drafted in the third round with the 67th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, found himself thrust into a starting role and responded surprisingly well. He completed 263 of 394 attempts for a 66.8 completion percentage and an 88.8 passer rating, with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and 2,664 yards passing. If he grows into a top 12 passer, at least a portion of the credit should go to Offensive Coordinator Alfonza “Pep” Hamilton.
Hamilton has an impressive resume having worked to groom such quarterbacks as Andrew Luck and Justin Herbert, who won the offensive rookie of the year award; many see him as a future head coach. Receivers Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins are both speedy and talented targets. Tight ends: Antony Auclair, Pharaoh Brown, Brevin Jordan, Teagan Quitoriano, Mason Schreck, and Seth Green are all either reserve, unlikely to make the team, or at least unproven. There’s a good chance that the Houston Texans’ tight end of the future isn’t on the roster.
The running back position is more promising, former Colt back Marlon Mack is only 26 and can be productive when healthy, Dameon Pierce is a mature rookie, and Rex Burkhead is a made-to-order third-down back. The offensive line is not too pricey and fairly experienced. Laremy Tunsil is the ‘Lion’s Share’ of that price tag, with $17,707,988 due to him this season, between guaranteed salary and prorated bonus, with Tytus Howard at $3,889,948 in guaranteed salary and prorated bonus and Justin Britt checking in at $3,647,059 in the 2022 season for salary and bonuses, rookie Kenyon Green is already listed as a starter.
Houston Texans On Defense
Veteran head coach Lovie Smith will also be acting as his own defensive coordinator. Smith is a renowned defensive mind. Does this make sense? If this defense can generate a more consistent and disruptive pass-rush without blitzing, that will go a long way towards making both of his jobs easier.
One of the great bargains on this roster is Jonathan Greenard, who had eight sacks in 2021, which led the team. He’s just age 25 and is only on the books for $1,231,495, to put that in perspective, Von Miller had nine and a half sacks in 2021; his signing bonus with the Bills was $3,705,000, and he’s 33.
They need to find another player who can wreak havoc from the outside, and Smith’s defense works best when effective and consistent pressure is provided by the ‘3-Technique’ defensive tackle who aligns on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard, closer to the side where the offensive tackle is. Aaron Donald is the prototype for the position. Maliek Collins and Ross Blacklock are the top two players there currently. Needless to say, they are not Aaron Donald.
Their linebackers are for Crimson Tide standout Christian Harris, who’s a rookie, free-agent signee Christian Kirksey, now on his third NFL team, and their former 2021 fifth-round selection Grant Wallow, age 23. This is an athletic group but largely still untested. Only Kirksey has extensive experience. The secondary is composed of free agents Steven Nelson and Eric Murray manning in one corner and a safety slot, with rookies Jalen Pitre and Derek Stingley Jr. taking the other. Desmond King may well compete for time at Nickel with former Brown Tavierre Thomas and speedy former Falcon Kendall Sheffield.
Season Summary For The Houston Texans
The 2022 Houston Texans have several talented rookies who are projected to start, with a few more who will contribute as reserves. Head coach Lovie Smith is known as patient and a good teacher. He will likely have to be. They open their season with the Colts, the Broncos, Bears, and Chargers are the other games in the first four games of the season. If they are two and two or better after week four, it bodes well.
My current win/loss projection is 7-10, however, two or three of those ten losses are in games that I expect to be decided by three or fewer points. I expect them to be a threat in the AFC South, and Davis Mills and Nico Collins are poised for breakout seasons.
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