December is generally a bad time to pick a new favorite team or favorite player. The accusations of being a frontrunner would stick like lint on velcro.
May is the best time to make the switch for those with fair weather loyalty. The ongoing voluntary workouts across the NFL provide glimpses into some teams’ fortunes as they go through their installation periods to ensure a smooth training camp.
According to Adam Schein from NFL.com, Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans made his list of bandwagons to join in the 2023 season.
I really think the world of Ryans. That’s well-documented. From his playing days as a Pro Bowl linebacker to his coaching days as defensive coordinator of San Francisco’s top-ranked unit, Ryans is impressive at every turn. Thus, I have no worries about him adjusting to life as a head man. He’s brilliant. He’s a great leader of men. His team will be buttoned up and fundamentally sound.
All that said, this is far from a complete roster. Houston is absolutely going to suffer some growing pains with rookie C.J. Stroud under center. But I also think these [Texans] are going to catch some opponents by surprise, winning games they aren’t supposed to. In DeMeco I trust.
The makings are there for the Texans to at least shrug off the rebuilding label, even if they don’t make the playoffs or even avoid another double-digit loss season. The Texans have the third-easiest schedule in the league according to conventional metrics, and similarly easy using more advanced metrics. All it would take is a winning streak starting out, or a .500 record by their Week 7 bye to at least put forward the narrative the Texans were “fixed.” Houston could alternate wins and losses the rest of the schedule and still have the perception of being turned around under Ryans.
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