NFL
Deshaun Watson – The Key For The Houston Texans
It’s no mystery that when Deshaun Watson went down in 2017 with a torn ACL that the Houston Texans season was all but over. Tom Savage and TJ Yates came in and played the rest of the season for the beaten and battered Texans. Just how important is Deshaun Watson to the success of the Houston Texans though?
Number 50 Overall Player By NFL Network
Deshaun Watson played in only seven games last year while starting in just six. He threw for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 269 and two touchdowns. This summer Watson was voted by his peers as the 50th best player in all of football. Which is pretty high praise considering he only played in seven games all of the 2017 season.
Deshaun Watson not only opened the entire football world’s eyes with his performances against the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, but he also had NFL general managers regretting not drafting him first overall.
The Clutch Gene
What Deshaun Watson brings to the table is different than most other quarterbacks, he is calm, cool and collected at all times even when facing the most abundant adversity. He proved time and time again through his college career at Clemson University that when the brightest lights come on, he plays his best.
His clutch throw to Hunter Renfrow to win the National Championship against Alabama in 2016 will be a play remembered by the college football world forever. He has faced tough competition time and time again and proved he can win at the NFL level.
Opening Up The Running Game
Deshaun Watson’s ability to keep a play alive and spread out the defense opens the running game up. The Texans currently have Lamar Miller and D’Onta Foreman as their first two options at running back, but it really doesn’t matter who plays because Watson will be able to open up holes and gaps that most other quarterbacks can’t because of his ability to extend the play.
In 2017 the Houston Texans offensive line was shaky at best, but because of Watson’s ability to scramble and extend plays, it made the offensive line playing poorly not impact the game as much. In 2018 the offensive line has not made substantial improvements or many free agent acquisitions so Watson will be playing behind the same line, creating the same highlight plays.
Bouncing Back From Injury
A lot of people like to compare Deshaun Watson’s second ACL tear to that of Robert Griffin III. Nevertheless, what people don’t understand is that Watson is a pass-first quarterback who uses his throwing ability to open up the running game.
Deshaun Watson is going to rebound from this injury stronger and better than he was before, so leave no doubt. Deshaun Watson will be the key to the Houston Texans season in 2018. However, if they want to make a Super Bowl run, it will be on the shoulders of #4.
Note: This piece is accredited to Johnny Rambos former NFL Department contributor at TSJ101 Sports.
