The Houston Texans entered the 2019 offseason with a major concern, among others: their secondary.
In 2018, Houston’s secondary struggled mightily, no matter the personnel or schematics. They sought to fix that in the offseason by bringing-in numerous members to the group. Four of those new members have paid off as coverage players.
The Texans boast four secondary members allowing below the league-average in passer rating (90.9). All four of those players were not on the roster in 2018.
Safety Tashaun Gipson has allowed a 47.4 passer rating in coverage in 2019, per Pro Football Reference. Cornerback Bradley Roby follows with a 79.4. Corner Keion Crossen follows Roby with an 81.9. Rounding out the group is safety Jahleel Addae with a 90.8.
Cornerback Gareon Conley nearly made the group; he allows a 92.4 in coverage.
Perhaps the most telling statistics are Gipson’s and Roby’s, who are both starters in the Texans’ defense. Houston plucked both of them in free agency, signing Gipson to a three-year deal and Roby to a one-year contract. Both have proven to be revelations in the Texans’ secondary.
Crossen has not seen a start in the Texans’ defense. His third-ranked, for the Texans, passer rating allowed comes while playing 103 snaps in Houston’s secondary.
Addae rounds-out the list. Though not a starter, he plays an integral role as Houston’s third safety behind Gipson and Justin Reid. The former Los Angeles Charger has 489 defensive snaps on the season.
The Texans remain to be a leaky pass defense, allowing the third-most passing yards per game (270.9). However, that may not be due to the secondary. The pass-rush has struggled mightily throughout the year, acting like the NFL’s worst since J.J. Watt’s torn pectoral in Week 8.
Houston’s secondary may not be all-world. However, it’s not one of the biggest wholes on the roster. They targeted help in the offseason and found just that. If the pass-rush can improve, the Texans can slowly build-up a pass defense that can hold-up.
