The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of Preseason Week 3:
QB3 Battle got interesting, but will it even matter? Coming into that matchup, at least based on game action, Kedon Slovis seemed to have the inside track to claim the QB3 slot for the team over Graham Mertz. However, for this game, Houston led Mertz start the 1st half
of the final preseason game, after only getting time in the 4th quarter the past two. Mertz took that opportunity to show why Houston took a 6th round flyer on him, going 14-16 for 145 yards and a TD, with no TDs. He also had a couple of nice scrambles that kept drives alive. Slovis didn’t slack off in his second half performance (11 of 16 for 111 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT (which should really be more the WR’s fault)). It was good to see two guys fighting for the 3rd QB slot with some quality play, but also makes the next few days harder for the coaching staff. Granted, this was against the backups and backups to the backups for Detroit, but you had to feel good for Mertz, especially after that disaster of a 1st preseason action. Will it matter? Projections do not show Houston carrying more than two QBs on the active roster. However, would Houston keep both on the practice squad? As a draft pick, the team has invested a bit more in Mertz, so the practice squad seems logical for him. Slovis? As a free agent pickup, he would not have as much invested in him, but if nothing else, he should keep his cellphone charged, as a team in need of an arm for the roster might call him up if Houston doesn’t keep him.
Special Teams might get more exciting…and that is not always a good thing. This preseason offered a chance for teams to see how they would manage the new kickoff return rules. With the threat of a kickoff touchback that flying into/out of the endzone now giving teams the ball at the 35 vs. the 30, squads are kicking short of the endzone to enable returns with the potential to force teams to take the ball before the 35. Kick-coverage was mixed for Houston, as they opened the game allowing a LB from Detroit (more later) to return the ball to near midfield. The kick coverage was better the rest of the game, but even during the course of preseason, teams were able to get yardage against the Texans’ kick coverage. Given that the preseason kick coverage involved players that will actually do that job in the regular season, it will bear watching. Concurrently, the Texans got some nice kick returns from their side of the ball. While Pierce has been the primary kick returner when he was active, others on the squad could take on that role, which could make his status quite interesting. Oh, and then there was the long snapping. With Brinkman out with an undisclosed injury, the team went with Blake Ferguson. That didn’t always go well. Freguson had a couple of bad snaps, which led to one whiff of an extra point (timing disrupted between snapper, holder, kicker), and another poor snap threw off the timing that led to a FG miss. One hopes that Brinkman is back against the Rams, or otherwise Houston fans will have that much more reason to turn to the heart medication.
Still a lot of questions about the TE position: One hope from preseason was that the team might get some clarity of signs of brilliance from the TE position. However, in three preseason games, not a lot of production from that position. Granted, Stover and Schultz didn’t log a lot of playing time, but even when they were on the field, it was hard to know they were there. As for other players at the TE spot, Irv Smith Jr. and Luke Lachey offered some moments of brilliance as receiving options. However, the preseason did not answer a ton of questions about the position. In particular, can Schultz return to his 2023 form when he was an actual effective weapon in the receiving game and can the other players at the position that survive cutdown day offer more than just replacement-level performance?
The Offensive Line Scheme seems to be working: Take all preseason action with some grains of salt. However, it appeared that the Oline managed to hold up well in their 3 matchups. Sure, things were a bit rough in Minnesota, but it was not like the QBs/RBs were under complete pressure where the line disintegrated into pure nothingness. For this game, the blocking scheme and actions more than held up. On Saturday, you got to see the Texans execute some slower-developing plays that allowed for longer gains in the passing game. Even when the main players were in, they seemed to offer hope that the nightmare of the 2024 line might be in the past. We’ll learn a lot more when the games start for real in two weeks, but a fan could be forgiven for holding some optimism about the line. Also, the performances of players like Andrews, Ingram and Ersery are worth the optimism.
FUN WITH NUMBERS:
5: Straight preseasons where Houston had a winning record. Preseason records are like the points from Who’s Line is It Anyway? (they don’t matter). Still, a team would rather win than lose games, and in some cases, that would be the best winning percentages that that the Texans achieved that whole season (see 2021-2022). Overall, Houston is 12-4 in the preseason since 2021. Make of that what you will.
GAME BALLS:
QB Graham Mertz:While we already discussed his performance against Detroit, it is remarkable that this man tore his ACL less than a calendar year ago and moved like he did in the game against Detroit. Amazing the advances in medical technology. Does that mean you want to build a franchise around him? No, but it is worth a tip of the cap.
WRs Quintez Cephus and Cornell Powell: These two had themselves some pretty nice games (4 receptions, 51 yards 1 TD/6 receptions, 63 yards respectively). Does this mean that they are roster bound? Eh, maybe, maybe not, but at the very worst, their performance should be enough that they either catch on with another team, or they too should keep their cellphone charged
Detroit LB Grant Stuard: You do have to recognize when a player balls out, even if they play for the other team. A LB with a massive kick return (44 yards) and a couple of strong tackles (6 tackles (2 solo)) to check some running play? Sure, you get a TDATDA game ball.
All Those Players Who Will Get The Dreaded “The coach wants to see you and bring your playbook” Message: Look, it is exciting that the preseason is over, as it means that the regular season is almost here. It is exciting because we can figure out who is on the team and how they will look. Yet, it is also the saddest point on the NFL calendar. Of the 90 players starting camp, 37 will not be on the final roster. Yes, some can make the practice squad, and there will be some wheeling and dealing, but for many players, this is the death kneel of a lifelong dream.. Maybe they can find some other options, or maybe they get back to the league, but the percentages say when that call comes in, it is the slamming of the door on a phase of life, and said player must go pro in something else. It isn’t a replacement, but the least we can do is offer praise for those that lived the dream of playing in the NFL.
We’ll forgo the least valuable player recognition this week. It is the end of preseason, and for a ton of players, they are going to get some soul-crushing news this week, so no sense in piling on this time.
With that, we bid adios to the preseason. The next time we see the Texans play, it will be Kickoff Weekend, Sunday, September 7th at 3:25 CDT against the Rams in LA. See you then.
