There are obviously no quick fixes to a decade's worth of mostly poor personnel decisions, but there is one thing the Texans can do defensively to save themselves at least a TD per game... and that is for the front seven to read and react to the screen plays.

Crennel has given Watt some leeway to freelance out there, and this worked very well in 2014 when Watt should have been MVP of the league. This year, however, offenses have figured out that the Texans defense only cares about pursuit which leaves them very vulnerable to players getting the football out in space, ESPECIALLY when the LBs and safeties are slow and severely lacking NFL-caliber talent.

Take advantage of the speed Watt and Clowney (and, ahem, you too Mercilus) to remove the screen game from opposing offenses, and this D likely goes back to looking like a bend-but-don't-break defense loaded with first rounders.

Another thing would be to tighten the coverage. Give Watt and Clowney a chance to make a play and eliminate all the quick throws. Also, always rush at least 5 players. Mercilus isn't much use, so at least let him use his speed to get after the qb, and maybe get a few cleanup sacks. I would line Clowney on Watts side, Mercilus on the other, and do a lot of praying. Maybe hire a full time chaplain.

Pertinent to earlier discussion, article from Jason LaCanfora....

Inside Football: Time for heads to roll in Houston, but not Bill O'Brien's

More at link...

Saw one play yesterday where Clowney sniffed out a WR screen. Unfortunately the other 10+ worked like a charm, but that 1 was a pretty good play.

A "local" outlook:

Houston Texans Are Failing At All Levels of the Organization

Patrick Starr

More at link.....

Here comes the power struggle....

From Brian Smith's twitter
O'Brien tried and wanted to cut Mallett on Saturday after he missed team plane. GM Rick Smith wouldn't allow it and overruled #Texans' coach

Smith should be fired along with Mallett. That is absolutely ridiculous a GM overrules a coach on cutting loose a freaking useless, backup malcontent. I can understand it if it is a key player making millions under a longterm contract, but a crappy backup under a 1-yr contrct??. WTH could Smith possibly be thinking here? If you're going to make a complete asswipe move like this and undermine the HC, then just fire him. I'm really beginning to depise this organization with Smith at the helm.

I am hoping this is Rick Smith's farewell season.

Sorta agree. If OB was in the heat of the moment and. Rick talked him off the ledge, I'd be ok with it. You can't go into a game with your punter as the QB2.

The real tell will be if Mallett survives today. If he does, Rick wins. If he doesn't, they compromised for the sake of the team on game day.

Regardless, it's never good when stuff like this is leaked to the media. We shouldn't even know about it. Drama is always bad, but especially bad for a struggling squad.

I haven't read the article because I refuse to register at chron.com just to get "insider" access to read some hack sports article. But yes, timing is key here. If this went down before the Miami game, then I can understand Smith overruling OB and hopefully it gets corrected today. But if it went down after the game, then they might as well fire OB because, IMO, it totally undermines his authority in the locker room. How I see this playing out is, if Mallett remains on the roster, I can see a scenario where OB flags him as Inactive from here on and brings up Dysert (or signs someone else) at the expense of a currently rostered player. And that's unfortunate because it impacts OB's authority as well as another player who doesn't deserve to get cut just because the idiot, inept GM wants to make a power play for a useless player.

FWIW, Mallett is not on a 1-year contract. Cutting Mallett now, if I read the cap details right, takes his 2-yr deal and puts it against this year's cap but then there's nothing against next year's cap, saving $3.5 million in 2016. $1.75 million of the contract is guaranteed which is all 2015 money.

Frankly, cutting Mallett does not fix the problem nor does it send the right message. it's not going to light a fire under these players. I suspect O'Brien has overused his profanity-laced tirades and the players have begun tuning it out.

Texans disagree. It solves one problem... Getting a pouty, malcontent, dumbass off the roster. Texans aren't out any big money so I'm glad they did it.

I'm thinking I might go over to Reliant and ask for a QB tryout. I need to exercise more anyways so it is a win/win for all parties.