Coach Bill O’Brien can’t put his finger specifically on why Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has not taken as many hits in the past two games, contests in which he has not been sacked once, but O’Brien does have a theory.
According to the sixth-year coach, albeit there are “a lot of different factors” at play, O’Brien believes the ignition of the run game has helped keep defenses honest and thus Watson upright.
“I think you have to be able to run the football,” O’Brien told reporters Wednesday. “I think that he’s done a good job of taking what the defense gives him. I think that we’ve blocked well. I think the guys have run good routes in the passing game. So, I think, again, it has to continue.”
The run game has been a big part of the Texans offense in recent weeks with running back Carlos Hyde eclipsing the century mark on the ground in the club’s 31-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6.
Furthermore, the explosion of Watson’s receiving targets, such as receiver Will Fuller with 217 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the club’s 53-32 rout of the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5, gives defenses a reason to shore up their back end and not devote as many defenders to teeing off on Watson.
However, O’Brien believes the order is about to reset when they take on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7. Their AFC South rivals three players with at least two sacks in defensive ends Denico Autry, Justin Houston, and defensive tackles Grover Stewart. The defensive line is also fortified by the play of defensive tackle Margus Hunt and defensive end Jabaal Sheard. Factor in linebacker Darius Leonard, and the Colts present a dangerous front seven that could disrupt all of the things Houston was doing well to keep Watson clean in the pocket.
“Now you’re going to a team that has Justin Houston, Jabaal Sheard, Margus Hunt, Autry, Darius Leonard,” O’Brien said. “They’ve got some really good players on defense so we have to try to be consistent and try to be productive.”
