The growth of Deshaun Watson as a NFL quarterback continues and it is clear that he is the franchise player for whom the Houston Texans have been searching. To this point, Watson has started eleven games and the Texans are just 5 and 6 in those contests. In the 2018 season, Watson has completed 65.1% of his passes with 8 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. What really jumps out this season is that Watson has had three games with a completion percentage over 68%, compared to having just one of those games last season.
What should not be lost with Watson is how much he has grown as an NFL quarterback since his first start against the Cincinnati Bengals his rookie season, where he was able to go through two walk-through practices and come out with a win. Of course, Watson needs to be wise not to take hits like he did last week against the Dallas Cowboys especially when he needs to slide to go down. Those hits, plus another big one in the pocket late in the 4th quarter, resulted in Watson being listed as day-to-day with a chest injury.
One of Watson’s biggest issues over his starts has been how he is too impatient at times and forces throws. Two of his interceptions this season were forced into double coverage as he tried to pass the ball for the touchdowns. It is understood why he made those choices with the football, being behind in games and trying to make plays to help the team win. That is what makes Watson who he is, being able to put together plays that not many can make from the quarterback position.
What should not be lost is how much Watson has grown as a quarterback and it was clear in his game against the Cowboys. Teams are copycats when it comes to week-to-week game planning on how to defend other teams, that remains true on how teams treat Watson. Defenses want Watson to beat them with his arm and the Cowboys did a good job of getting their safeties over the top of receivers and controlling the deep passing game of the Texans. Entering that game, the Texans passing game had 11 plays through the air that covered 25+ yards and five of those came against the New York Giants in a week three loss. The Cowboys held Will Fuller to season lows in targets (3), receptions (2) and yards (15), but Watson found other ways to attack the Cowboys defense.
The targets that usually head to Fuller have been spread around to others who were open underneath. Tight end Ryan Griffin had 6 receptions while running back Alfred Blue had 8 and those were season highs in receptions for their respective position groups. Blue’s 8 receptions were the most by a Texans running back since Arian Foster had 9 in week five of the 2015 season. Griffin (4) and Blue (2) combined for 6 of their catches for 1st downs while three of their other receptions led to 2nd/3rd-down plays of 4 yards or less. Plays like this keep defenses guessing because the Texans offense can either run or pass in those situations to keep the chains moving.
Watson stayed patient and took what the defense gave him and then at the start of the week, explained how the offense played.
“They respect our deep threat,” Watson said of the Texans big play ability. “They respect Will Fuller (V), they respect Hop (DeAndre Hopkins) and they always – if it’s one-high, two-high, but some type of form – they always have at least one guy deep that’s playing deep, playing over the top and that’s the thing.”
Watson continued, “They want to make us earn those yards and be able to move down the field in 12 or 13 plays throughout. That should be in every defensive game plan. Never give up the big play, never let the ball go over your head. We respect that and we just try to find open holes in it.”
It was the first time in the Bill O’Brien era that saw a quarterback use the offensive system to its full capabilities: checking down to a back or tight end in favorable match-ups to eat up yards, leaving Watson turning to other players and taking his chances with DeAndre Hopkins in one-on-one situations.
Also, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, according to NFL’s NextGen Stats, Watson was pressured a career-low 20.7% of his 44 drop backs. The Texans made some changes at offensive tackle but Watson is instrumental in slowing opposing pass rushes. Watson is responsible for mike checks (pointing out the linebacker that all protections are set up off of), understanding where possible blitzes are coming from, and getting the Texans into the right play, either with the play that is called or checking into another play. All of this is done pre-snap and then those observations go to what he is asked to do when the action is live. Everyone can see with their eyes that when the play is being run, Watson can make plays with sheer athletic ability, but his control of the offense is what is most impressive, especially in the past two weeks.
Watson has been much better at controlling pass rushes with getting the ball out quick and finding the counter to the what the defense is throwing at him. Both the Indianapolis Colts and Cowboys tried to pressure Watson from the nickel cornerback positions but Watson was more than prepared for those looks.
There were questions from draft analysts on whether Watson could adapt to a NFL system but credit head coach Bill O’Brien and quarterback coach Sean Ryan for their continued work with Watson to help him grow as a quarterback. They have found a way to harness his ability as a quarterback and help him become an above average passer and allow him to improvise with his feet when it comes time.
Watson is growing as a NFL quarterback and that is good news for the Texans franchise.
BY THE NUMBERS
375-40-1, Deshaun Watson needs 375 passing yards and 40 rushing yards to pass Steve Young for the most career games (three) of at least 375 yards passing and 40 yards rushing in NFL History. Also, Watson needs 1 touchdown pass to pass Dan Marino (27) for the second-most touchdown passes in player’s first 13 career games in NFL history.
375, Watson needs to throw for 375 yards on Sunday against the Bills to become the first player in NFL History to throw for that many yards in four consecutive games. Ryan Fitzpatrick (2018), Tom Brady (2011) and Kurt Warner (2000) accomplished this feat.