He hasn’t shown enough improvement against the best teams, I can get behind that. But, what are the “reasons” he should have? His QB coach? I think he’s had three in the last three years.
Yes and no, he has had several QB coaches but that doesn't tell the whole picture. First he has kept his personal QB coach the entire time and even the Texans haven't just thrown the first person that walked through the door in that role and have tried to hire quality coaches for this role. Yes past success is no guarantee of future success but this is the one area I absolutely can not fault the Texans on because they have tried.
His OC? O’Brien, Godsey, O’Brien, Kelly... yawn...
Agreed for whatever reason the play calling has kept trying to shove that square peg into that round hole. Can Watson call audibles, yes he can but I would agree with someone if they said OB wouldn't accept him doing that to many times. Plus its not his job to second guess the OC on every play just when the defense does a change he sees.
His improved OL? bwahahaha
The Oline has been hit or miss and Devlin should have been fired long long before now, can't believe he outlasted OB, but to say it hasn't improved is wrong. Texans just sold the farm for the best LT available and even if people don't like it the market was what it was and Tunsil was the only one on the market they could get. Howard was a solid pick at 23 for a long term RT and for everyone that thought Dillard would have been the answer go check out how he is doing on the Eagles and then factor in that he wouldn't have had a year to sit behind a future HoF LT and he would have Devlin as his coach. Yeah Dillard would have been a bust and Watson would have been killed.
Martin I don't know why they paid him like they did but maybe it was in an effort to keep the line as intact as possible and Watson has seemed comfortable with him at center. At the least we haven't seen to many mistakes between them on the snap which can count for a lot. The rest are basically stop gaps but with all the needs this team has they have tried to fix the line even at the expense of other things like the defense.
Plus there is a very good case to be made that Watson contributes to his sack numbers more that many want to admit.
The support he’s getting from the run game?
Hyde was solid and Texans may not have had a great run game but you look at KC and Reid seems to think run game is what happens after the receiver catches the ball. Texans run game has been decent enough to give Watson a breather and pick up a yard here and there. Plus one of the advantages of a duel threat QB is that they themselves can kick off a run game. This year I agree the run game is a joke but the whole team is a joke and we aren't just talking about this year.
Or is it just because he’s been playing for 4 years? Because if that’s all you got... let’s see what happens with a new HC & hopefully a real OC.
Not just because but there is something to be said for experience and learning the speed and impact of an NFL game. Watson is clearly very intelligent and able to break down plays so is he not watching his own film to see where he can improve? And if he is then does he A: think that he is doing everything right B: see areas to improve but doesn't know how or C: see areas to improve and then in the heat of the moment forget what he was suppose to do different and reverts to habit? Or it could be none of the above but any elite, franchise QB should always be their worst critic and constantly working to improve.