Let’s Talk About It

Deshaun Watson is currently slated to miss the entire 2021 season due to a recent case against him. Or rather, 25+ cases of sexual allegations. However, even before he found himself in this uncanny situation, he appeared prepared to sit out this season regardless. Watson wanted to be traded.

Why? He claims he has been mistreated and boasts the popular fan opinion that the Texans do nothing to help him.

Absolute blasphemy.

That opinion is downright appalling. Watson is far and wide one of the most glorified players in the NFL, and he is entirely overrated.

Don’t work yourself up too quick, I’m not saying he stinks or is a bad quarterback by any means. I’m simply informing you that he is not a top five player at his position.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥

In Watsons short four year career, he has had a combined twelve Pro Bowl and All Pro offensive teammates. It is mind baffling when I hear people say Watson has no help. He is averaging three superstar teammates per year!

In comparison, Matthew Stafford has played in the NFL for twelve seasons while having a combined 14 Pro Bowl and All Pro teammates.

Both quarterbacks receive excuses from their fanbases claiming they have no help, and with better team management or ing cast they’d have more team success.

However, NFL fans are quick to lay accusations against Stafford, saying things such as “if Stafford was good he would find a way to win,” or “Stat Padford. He just gets his numbers in garbage time.” Seriously? Stafford puts up points throughout the game, but he plays for the Lions. The entire contest is garbage time. You don’t see anyone making these accusations against Watson though. Watson is constantly ranked among the NFL’s best at his position.

In fact, the Texans have sold out all their top-notch high profile defensive players in favor of offensive around Watson. The departures of Jadeveon Clowney and DJ Reader left extreme unfilled holes on the defensive line, and the Texans paid the price. They boasted the leagues worst run defense in 2020, allowing over 2,500 yards; but in return they had the money to extend recently acquired left tackle Laremy Tunsil, sign wide receiver Randall Cobb, and trade for wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Cooks had 81 catches for over 1,000 yards, Tunsil was a Pro Bowler, and Cobb was perhaps the most reliable target in his limited time before injury, catching 79.2% of es and gaining first downs on over half of his receptions.

Furthermore, in the questionable trade of DeAndre Hopkins, the Texans brought in running back David Johnson who was averaging 4.7 yards a carry with eight total touchdowns while missing time with injury. In short, the trade gave Watson a good running back who could also be a receiving threat out of the backfield, but injuries slowed him down. If David could’ve stayed healthy all year this trade would not look as bad as it currently does. David Johnson played only 56% of his teams snaps.

With the trading away of Hopkins, the Texans looked to force their young quarterback to spread the ball around and utilize his already good arsenal. To pad that scenario, following the detachment of his star wideout, the Texans eased the transition by hauling in two more competent catchers as well as a running back suited perfectly to compliment Watson’s skill set. Watson lined up last season with Brandin Cooks, Will Fuller V, Randall Cobb, Kenny Stills, David Johnson, and the best offensive line of his career.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨

In 2019, Deshaun Watson was credited with leading his team to the playoffs. He earned a Pro Bowl nod and was a shining face of the NFL, receiving much even after the devastating playoff loss to the Chiefs in which they led by 24 points to begin the game.

That was the same year Jimmy Garoppolo led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Jimmy received heavy criticism and backlash over the fact his team had a top three defense in the league, as well as a dominant run game. Jimmy didn’t even play poor, he was simply bashed for having a good team.

Did Watson really carry the Texans though?

Watson had 3,800 yards, 26 touchdowns, 12 interceptions along with 400 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. Certainly an impressive year, but when you take into Carlos Hyde ran for over 1000 yards and was consistently a dominant back, leading the Texans to the 7th ranked run offense while the ing game was only 15th in the league, how can Watson be credited with leading that team to the playoffs?

The defense was 28th in yards, but just below average in points. The offense was league middling, their best attribute coming with the 7th ranked run game. Watson certainly had help, relying heavily on his top wideout, DeAndre Hopkins, complimented by Kenny Stills and Will Fuller V.

Comparing the two quarterbacks in Garoppolo and Watson, Garoppolo had more ing yards (3,900+), more touchdowns (27) better completion percentage (69.1 Jimmy, 67.2 Watson), and only one more interception than Watson, totaling 13 — 8 of which were first dropped by receivers.

In of winning, the 49ers went 13-3 while the Texans went 10-6, but the 49ers certainly had the better team. What should stand out is the big moments. When their teams needed them most, Jimmy was the best quarterback in the league, having the highest er rating while his team was losing. Essentially, when your team is down you throw the ball to score quickly and get back in the game, and no one did it better than Garoppolo. Perhaps that’s why he led the league in 4th quarter comebacks in 2019 and not Watson.

Both teams had excellent run games, but while the Texans were set up to be a oriented team, Watson underperformed. Garoppolo did better with a run first team.

This comparison goes all the way back to 2017, when both quarterbacks arrived with their new teams. Watson inherited a team in which Tom Savage and Brian Hoyer led to the playoffs in consecutive seasons, Jimmy took a team on pace to finish 0-16–and statistically worse than the eventual 0-16 Browns—and won every game as a starter, capping the season off with a 5-0 run. The next year he got injured, and without him the team slumped back to a four win season.

In 2019 Jimmy had a better run game and slightly better offensive line, but far worse receivers. He didn’t have the best wideout in the game, but still in his run heavy offense Jimmy performed better than Watson. Still, Jimmy is criticized and Watson is praised as a top QB.

When the playoffs rolled around, many the Texans being up 24-0, then losing 51-31 to the Chiefs. What they don’t is the details of that fast start and then what followed. The Texans scored on their opening drive with a 54-yard touchdown from Watson to Fuller. Then the Chiefs offense was muffled by the Texans “very bad” defense. A blocked punt resulted in a touchdown, setting the game at 14-0. Kansas City punts on the ensuing drive, followed by the Texans offense fluttering to a halt and punting it back only for the punt team to force a fumble and recover the ball on the six yard line, leading to a 4-yard touchdown from Watson to TE Darren Fells. The Chiefs again had a three and out, resulting in a very poor punt that set the Texans up at the 49-yard line. They failed to move the ball and ended up with a field goal, now leading 24-0.

Watson didn’t jump off to a hot start, the defense did; and when the magic died, the Chiefs put up 51 points while Watsons apparent elite skills only managed to score one more touchdown in garbage time against a Chiefs defense that had unimpressed all season long. Before that, Watson simply took advantage of the field position his defense had given him for easy points.

Reminder that before the controversial fourth quarter of the Super Bowl that year, Jimmy Garoppolo was 18/21 for 195 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT and on pace to being Super Bowl MVP.

𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙

Stafford and Garoppolo are two heavily criticized players in the league at the same position Watson is, who both perform better with arguably less, but receive heavy criticism. Yes, Watson can run. Being able to run does not make you an elite QB. If your entire system is set up to rely on you succeeding while ing the ball, every season should look similar to Watsons 2020 campaign. Not like his abysmal 2019 loaded with hype and underachieving.

How is it that Watson has made three consecutive Pro Bowls, his best season falling to 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns, 7 interceptions and only four wins, while Stafford has only one single Pro Bowl coming in one of his worst seasons. Staffords best season yet, in which he compiled 5,038 yards, 41 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and ten wins did not earn him a Pro Bowl nod.

In Staffords twelve seasons, he has had 11 games with a 100-yard rusher. In Watsons four seasons, he has had 8 games with a 100-yard rusher. Neither in preferable, but it’s clear 8 in four years is far better than 11 in twelve years. Stafford has less help, puts up better performances, and receives incredulous amounts of hate. So WHY is Watson praised? Jimmy is said to be unreliable due to his injury history and the fact he had one playoff game where his team won by a landslide with him only throwing eight es. How does that make him bad? In every major category he flushes Watson away. Jimmy was the only QB in 2019 to finish top five in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and touchdowns. Simply stating he does not check down, he throws to score and he throws to win; and he’s good at it.

Jimmy doesn’t have the plethora of good wide receivers Watson does, but he performs better. Stafford has the same struggles Watson does, but amplified by ten and he performs better or equal. Neither of these quarterbacks whined to their teams about getting better linemen or receivers, but nobody is blaming Watson. If Watson is top five and Jimmy performs better, isn’t he top five? If Watson is top five and Stafford does just as good with much less and for a much longer duration, isn’t he top five?

𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙚.

Following the 2018 season, the Packers fired their head coach and GM. During the hiring process, star quarterback Aaron Rodgers asked to know who the new head coaching candidates were, and was heavily criticized by the media and fans (he did have some , but very little). People proclaimed Rodgers should stick to playing quarterback, and whoever his coach ends up being, he needs to deal with it like a professional. “You don’t pick your boss.” He’s paid to play quarterback, not GM.

Here we are two years later, and Watson is demanding to be traded because he was not given input on who the next coach and GM of the Texans should be. There’s no hate though, it’s actually a hot topic of conversation that the Texans are treating him unfairly for this act alone.

You don’t choose your own boss!

What happened to “stick to football,” or “you’re paid millions to play quarterback, not GM,” or “you don’t choose your own boss.” Rodgers is criticized and just two years later Watson is praised and defended in a surge of outcry that this madhouse that is the Houston Texans has somehow done him a great dishonorable deed.

Is it that fan narrative trying to push the NFL to be more like the NBA where the players do whatever they want? Coaches get fired, GM’s plans are scrapped, players have 1-2 year contracts to go to whichever super team they want next? Maybe the for Watson in this particular situation stems from the recent surge of Black Power, and people trying to empower Watson based on his skin color, claiming he deserves this in a stretch for equality and making up of past generations sins.

Regardless, the for Watson is extremely flawed and filled with hypocrisy. Every time his team fails there’s the fans screaming “he has no defense! No run game! No offensive line! No receivers! Bad GM and coach! The organization doesn’t treat him right!” Half the current flaws of the organization stem from the past management trying to aid Watson and silence the critics claiming he has no help. Now he has all the help in the world and the Texans experienced 4 wins.

Watson is not mistreated. He is making $140mil in 4 years time, surrounded by good-great wide receivers, behind an improving offensive line anchored by star Laremy Tunsil who allowed only two sacks last year. Watson is glorified. The well of excuses has run dry. The time is up. You’ve pulled every excuse card the book has to offer, and you’ve lost Mr. Watson. It’s time to put up and shut up. Your front office has clearly sold out trying to aid you, would you rather be in Stafford’s shoes? The Lions are openly known to not care about the state of the team, and often deny their star players like Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson a chance to win after ten years of service and Hall of Fame legacy with no playoff success.

Watson isn’t treated unfairly. He is babied. Watson isn’t top five. He’s heavily overrated. No more excuses.

#GoClub