ESPN analyst: New-look Texans offense not 'sustainable' under Watson

ESPN's Todd McShay says Watson is a "special dude," but the Texans will have evolve to sustain success. (USA TODAY Sports-David Kohl)

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Wed Oct 04 20:33:53 GMT-04:00 2017

ESPN analyst Todd McShay believes NFL defenses will eventually catch up to how the Houston Texans are using Deshaun Watson.

Watson is 2-1 through three starts, guiding Houston back to .500 this past Sunday by earning AFC offensive player of the week honors in a win over Tennessee. The national championship QB now leads the NFL in ESPN's QB rating (79).

Houston tailoring the offense to Watson with more college-like, run-pass option calls has been a staple of the success, McShay says.

“It’s the right way to do it right now, but I don’t think it’s sustainable though,” McShay said on the Ryan Russillo Show Wednesday. “I really don’t. As more defensive coordinators get time and gameplan for what they want to do. Understanding RPOs (run-pass options), which have not been – there’s more and more ever year in the NFL, but it’s never been a featured element offensively. I think they’re doing the right things. Keep him comfortable. Keep running the ball a little bit and (Houston's) got a great defense.

“They’ve got a good recipe for success with him right now.”

McShay isn’t as willing as some pundits to concede the Chicago Bears drafting former UNC quarterback Mitchell Trubisky over Watson was a mistake, citing “very similar grades” on them in his draft analysis and too little a sample size. The No. 2 overall pick will make his first start Monday night versus the Minnesota Vikings.

He added that he would rank both Watson and Trubisky behind 2018 top QB prospects Sam Darnold (USC), Josh Rosen (UCLA) and Josh Allen (Wyoming) if they were in the same class.

“I think physically there’s such a difference,” McShay said of the 2018 QB crop. “We’ll see over time.”

McShay says he had his doubts on Watson in the evaluation process, but the intangibles were there the more he talked to people.

“He was a tough evaluation because his offense at Clemson doesn’t translate perfectly – not that many do any more – to the NFL,” said McShay. “I thought his deep passing was inconsistent and he needed to improve in that area. But the more I was around him and around the people that have been around him and know him, the harder it was to bet against him. His unique trait is his leadership and his ability to play big in the biggest moments. It’s hard to know that studying the tape.

“You have to get to know the guy. He’s a special dude. While from a football development standpoint it surprises me a little bit that he’s having this much success early on, it doesn’t that he’s handling the moment and the leadership aspect of it and all the other parts that come with that position.”