Houston Texans
Offense
What has the chance to be the worst offense in the AFC and possibly the NFL, Houston is breaking in a new offensive scheme with a journeyman signal-caller, oft-injured running back and disgruntled wide receiver. What’s there to be optimistic about?
Ryan Fitzpatrick has a very limited ceiling under center, and neither backup Case Keenum nor rookie Tom Savage has done anything to provide much hope. Coming off an injury plagued 2013, Arian Foster has missed time this preseason due to nagging injuries. Andre Johnson already wanted out of town, and when he doesn’t get enough catches, where will his mindset be in mid-November?
Defense
What the Texans lack in defense they should make up for on defense. Jadeveon Clowney teaming up with J.J. Watt gives the unit a formidable pass rush. If Brian Cushing can return at 100 percent, the run defense should return to form.
The questions are in the secondary, where both corners Kareem Jackson and Johnathan Joseph have disappointed in recent years. A solid effort from the front seven should allow the pass defense to improve, though.
Outlook
The Texans might be picking in the top five again in May 2015. The offense has little potential, and despite Bill O’Brien‘s reputation for molding quarterbacks he doesn’t have much to work with this year. If Foster gets hurt again, where does that leave the offense?
Defense and defense alone should keep the Texans in games, but probably not enough to push the win total beyond four or five games. If the defense winds up being among the league’s best, it’ll only be a year or two away from the offense catching up, if O’Brien is as good as he’s expected to be.
