Deshaun Watson has stacked four consecutive 300-yard games over the past four weeks, but his protection of the football has jumped out to his offensive coordinator.
According to Tim Kelly, what the two-time Pro Bowler field general has done well over the past four weeks has actually been his ball security.
“He’s doing a good job of really taking care of the football, especially the past couple weeks,” Kelly said. “He’s doing a really good job of making good decisions. For the most part getting through his reads and finding the open receiver.”
Watson has thrown 11 touchdowns to two interceptions. The signal caller has had two fumbles, but none of them have been lost.
Kelly believes that Watson’s receiving corps of Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb, Will Fuller, and Kenny Stills also deserve some of the credit.
“A lot of credit goes to the wide receivers because they’re running good routes and multiple people are winning and multiple people are getting open,” Kelly said.
In the NFL, if a player isn’t improving, even they are playing at a high level such as Watson, they are atrophying and ultimately not playing winning football. For the Texans to get out of their 1-6 hole, they will need best efforts all around, even from Watson.
Said Kelly: “We just got to continue to work with D on being consistent, sticking to the reads, and we’re a good job for all 60 minutes. He does some really great things. Our goal is any time he takes the field to do that for the entirety of the game. He’s been close. He’s playing at a high level, but my expectation for him is that he’s able to take that next step.
“I feel that being able to do that is what is going to get him there.”
Watson will get a chance to take the next step in Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field to complete the season series.