The Houston Texans defense will be flying so low under the radar in 2020 they may as well drive.
According to Doug Farrar from the Touchdown Wire, who compiled a ranking of all 32 defenses in the NFL, the Texans came in at No. 29 overall.
Last we saw of the Texans’ defense, they were blowing a 24-0 lead to the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs, as then-defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel made the unfortunate decision to play almost exclusively man coverage against Patrick Mahomes and the eventual Super Bowl champs in a 51-31 humiliation. Crennel is now an associate head coach for the Texans, with Anthony Weaver running the defense. One can only hope the change augurs well for a defense that finished 26th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA metrics, 29th in the second half of the regular season, and fell off the face of the planet in the postseason.
Here is what happened to the Texans defense that may have affected their DVOA: J.J. Watt missed the last eight games of the season. Until he tore his pectoral muscle in Week 8’s 27-24 win against the Oakland Raiders, outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus was taking advantage of the extra attention Watt commanded and produced 5.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and an interception. Throw in the rash of injuries at cornerback that occurred midway through the year to starters Johnathan Joseph and Bradley Roby, along with reserves such as Phillip Gaines and Lonnie Johnson, and the Texans defense lost firepower near the end of the season.
By the same token, more than the shuffling of Crennel and Weaver has transpired for the Texans defense. Watt is returning healthy. Houston has their cornerback duo solidified with Roby and Gareon Conley. Timmy Jernigan comes over from the Philadelphia Eagles to possibly replace D.J. Reader at nose tackle. Inside linebacker Zach Cunningham is entering the final year of his contract and almost made the Pro Bowl in 2019. Edge rushers Charles Omenihu and Jacob Martin also get a year older.
Injuries decimated the Texans defense in 2019. That level of attrition won’t hit them again, and their play will look much better than bottom-5 in the NFL.