An overpriced asset to Caserio, Cobb was olive branch for Packers
Updated Friday, July 30, 2021
As general manager of the Houston Texans, Bill O’Brien was overly generous with other people’s money. One of the beneficiaries of his largesse was an accomplished but slowing receiver, Randall Cobb.
In 2014 Cobb, with Aaron Rodgers throwing to him, was the most productive and dependable slot receiver in the NFL: 91 catches, 1,287 yards, 12 touchdowns. But he’s been in decline since. In his final season in Green Bay, 2018, he played in 9 games and caught 38 passes for 383 yards. Brian Gutekunst, Packers general manager, was not impressed. He didn’t discourage Cobb from signing as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys.
In 2019 Cobb played well in Dallas – 55 receptions, averaging 15.1 yards. He had 41 first downs. O’Brien was impressed enough to grant him a 3-year, $27 million contract. But with the Texans, Cobb played in 10 games and caught 38 passes for only 441 yards. Modest production for that much salary. His longest gain was 34 yards. He was a factor in O’Brien’s midseason dismissal.
Nick Caserio has made the O’Brien’s disaster seem like an easy act to follow. Expectations could not be lower. Lindy’s Pro Football Preview predicts “a total dumpster fire.” Houston’s Hall of Fame football writer John McClain said the Texans will be “terrible on both sides of the ball. Maybe they’ll be the first 0-17 team.”
“The General,” who gave me marching orders on many a Sunday (“You write about the offensive line”), is a folk hero in Houston, deservedly. He knows more about the Texans than their owner, for what that’s worth.
But there are worse teams, Detroit and Philadelphia for two. Carolina could be a third. And how can we ever believe in Jets, Jags or Bengals?
McClain made his harsh assessment before Caserio was halfway through a rebuild that’s had more than a hundred moving pieces. Judging from recent Houston Chronicles, John is more optimistic after Caserio shopped the bargain basement, upgrading everywhere, including special teams. Bryan Anger is a fine punter, but Caserio jettisoned him to secure the NFL’s best one for a modest $8 mil over three years. Cameron Johnston hangs ‘em high. And landed 26 inside the 20, averaged 46.7 yards per kick for Philly.
Caserio’s latest move was to trade Cobb to Green Bay. Cobb in Houston was an overpriced asset, depreciating as he nears his 31st birthday in August. But he was an olive branch for Gutekunst, who was willing to part with a sixth-round draft pick and take on Cobb’s bloated salary to please Rodgers.
During the protracted reconciliation in Green Bay, Cobb was a lingering issue. He’s one of the “core players” Rogers cited at the Welcome Back Press Conference who “were extremely low-balled, not given the respect they deserved.”
Even in his worst year, 2020, Cobb’s catch rate was 79%. He’s what Rodgers wants: security blanket on third-and-6. He has other receivers who can go long.
Had he stayed in Houston, Cobb would have been challenged by Keke Coutee, 24, who has more after-the-catch wiggle. The Texans are not as bereft of receiving talent as many assume.
Brandin Cooks is a solid No. 1, caught 81 for 1,150 yards last season. And Chris Conley, ex-Kansas City Chief, caught 40 last year for Jacksonville. Third-round draft pick Nico Collins was not featured at run-based Michigan but fits the NFL: 6-4, 215 pounds, runs 40s in under 4.5 seconds.
Caserio, Bill Belichick’s favorite subordinate in New England, has quietly salvaged the shipwreck O’Brien left him. Maybe it won’t float above water for another year, but the 45-year-old Caserio has made progress since becoming GM in January.
Quarterback remains Issue No. 1 at Houston Methodist Training Center, where the Texans are camping. Deshaun Watson, estranged with 22 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct, is practicing on the scout team only for the purpose of avoiding fines of $50,000 per day that NFL rules do not permit a team to forgive.
This team probably will be quarterbacked by Tyrod Taylor, who defines journeyman: sixth-round draft pick on his fifth NFL team. He’s one of many reasons little or less is expected of the Texans.
But Caserio has upgraded the running game with backs Phillip Lindsay and Rex Burkhead and with center Justin Britt supplanting Nick Martin, who never lived up to Zack Martin’s genes.
On defense Caserio added run-stopping linebacker Jordan Jenkins and Washington’s best cover backer, Kevin Pierre-Louis. At last Houston’s nickel has value.
Caserio did better than expected in replacing the incomparable J.J. Watt. Shaq Lawson at 27 could be a splashier lineman than a fading Watt.
Expect resurgence from Justin Reid in a salary drive to free agency. He’s a talented strong safety, 24, recovering from Texan malaise. He sulked when McNair, like all NFL owners, snubbed his brother, Eric Reid, Pro Bowl free safety who got too close to social justice pioneer Colin Kaepernick. Justin was also dismayed by the schemes of Anthony Weaver. “Too zony,” Reid said. “Too much space.”
Lovie Smith, who was head coach of a Super Bowl team in Chicago, will tighten the zones and force turnovers. Caserio signed Desmond King and Terrance Mitchell to join Bradley Roby and give Houston three solid cornerbacks who are under 30. Few teams are so blessed.
Houston expects the massive upheaval will be costly early in the season. But the calm, studious leadership of David Culley is a relief from tumultuous Billyball. Culley is 65 and, like too many Black people in the NFL, overdue for his head-coaching opportunity. He comes from sturdy trees: Bill Cowher, Andy Reid, Sean McDermott, John Harbaugh.
And by the way, there’s no quarterbacks coach more respected than Pep Hamilton, who tutored Andrew Luck, Alex Smith and Justin Herbert. Not out of the question that Pep puts third-rounder Davis Mills on a fast track and Tyrod on an off ramp. I can see Culley guiding the Texans through Deshaun distraction to 6 wins. And a year from now they will have a franchise quarterback. They will be better than they’ve usually been. For what that’s worth.
